DeKalb County and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta launch WRAP, a water rate assistance program to help low-income families manage rising bills and protect access.
By Milton Kirby | DeKalb County, GA | August 17, 2025
DeKalb County has partnered with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta (ULGA) to launch the Water Rate Assistance Program (W.R.A.P.), a new initiative designed to help low-income households manage rising water costs. The program comes as the county implements a decade-long plan to modernize its aging water and sewer infrastructure, which requires a 10% rate increase each January for the next ten years.
County leaders say the rate adjustments are critical to reducing water main breaks, preventing service disruptions, and ensuring safe, clean water for decades to come. But they also acknowledge that the increases could pose financial challenges for vulnerable families.
“We understand that any increase can be difficult for some households,” said DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “That is why we have partnered with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta to launch WRAP. This program will help keep water service affordable for our most vulnerable residents while we make the necessary investments to protect public health and support our county’s growth.”
How WRAP Works
The WRAP program ensures that eligible households spend no more than 4.5% of their annual income on water and sewer bills, a threshold below federal and international affordability standards. Families whose bills already fall under that percentage are not eligible.
Benefits include:
Reduced water and sewer bills based on income and family size
Protection from service disconnections
Flexible payment plan options
Confidential and respectful service
Eligibility requires residents to be DeKalb County account holders, with income at or below 60% of HUD’s 2025 Adjusted Home Income Limits for the Atlanta metro area. Households receiving SNAP, SSI, or Social Security benefits may also qualify. The Urban League of Greater Atlanta will manage applications and verify eligibility.
“Access to clean, affordable water is a basic human necessity,” said Nancy Flake Johnson, President and CEO of ULGA. “Through W.R.A.P., we are ensuring that no family has to choose between paying their water bill and meeting other essential needs.”
Urban League’s Longstanding Role
Founded in 1920 as the Atlanta Urban League, the organization began as an affiliate of the National Urban League to support African American families migrating from rural Georgia to industrial Atlanta. At a time when the city was deeply segregated, the League provided pathways to jobs, housing, health care, and education.
In 2011, the agency became the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, a name that reflects its regional focus. Today, its mission is to “Empower Communities and Change Lives!” through programs that prepare the workforce for 21st-century jobs, improve graduation rates, foster homeownership, support entrepreneurs, and advocate for equity in education, civic life, and economic development.
The League’s initiatives extend across five pillars:
Human Services, Health & Wellness: Stabilizing families and promoting long-term economic security.
Workforce Development: Offering career pathways, education, and upskilling.
Entrepreneurship Center: Providing coaching and resources to help small businesses grow.
Housing and Homeownership: Delivering counseling, financial preparedness, and access to safe, affordable housing, including through the Housing Urban Blueprint (HUB) launched in 2023.
Policy and Civic Engagement: Building coalitions to advocate for systemic change in public safety, justice, and civic participation.
The National Urban League, founded in 1910, now leads 98 affiliates in 36 states, making it one of the most influential community-based networks in the nation.
How to Apply for WRAP
Applications open August 15 and can be submitted by:
Bo Luxe Male offers premium vegan skincare and hair care for Black men, using natural, plant-based ingredients to nourish textured hair, melanated skin, and boost overall well-being.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA| August 13, 2025
In a beauty industry dominated by mainstream products, one Atlanta entrepreneur is creating space for Black men’s skincare and hair care.
Heather Lenore is the founder of Bo Luxe Male, a premium vegan line designed for men with textured hair and melanated skin. Her products are made with all-natural, plant-based ingredients. Each formula draws on ancient healing traditions and uses essential oils to promote growth, healing, and protection. The goal is to nourish the skin and hair while also boosting mental well-being.
Lenore said the demand for high-quality, targeted grooming products is rising as men become more intentional about self-care. For many, finding products that truly work for their skin and hair type has been a challenge. Bo Luxe Male fills that gap.
“I talk to men every day,” she said. “Some have never used a proper face cleanser.” One client even applied the cleanser like lotion, not realizing it needed to be thoroughly rinsed off. Those experiences drive her to educate customers on the value — and correct use — of her products.
Heather Lenore
Working with The Georgia Center of Innovation, a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, she is constantly refining processes and developing and memorializing best practices.
Lenore maintains small-batch production. She hand-mixes ingredients like lemongrass, aloe vera, hibiscus, and frankincense, creating no more than 50 kits at a time to ensure quality. Each kit lasts about 90 days and is sized and packaged to be easily portable.
Bo Luxe Male products follow a four-step system: Clean, Hydrate, Heal, and Moisturize. The line includes natural cleansers, hydrating blends, healing treatments, and moisturizers that leave skin soft without a wet or greasy feel.
Lenore sells online, at her Salon Bougie location on Nelson Street, and through pop-up demonstrations at salons and barbershops. To ensure that men have what they need, when they need it, Lenore offers a subscription service that delivers to her customer’s door.
Like many small business owners, she wears multiple hats — CEO, COO, CMO, and CFO. She handles everything from production and marketing to financing and strategic planning. She has self-funded her business.
She has a keen understanding of her competition. She continually evaluates her marketing plan to ensure that Bo Luxe’s marketing strategy considers the competition’s positioning in the marketplace and adjusts her approach to stay competitive and ahead.
Customer feedback has been encouraging. “The skin of Black men is responding well to Bo Luxe — in some cases, almost instantly,” Lenore said.
Her ambition is bold: to make Bo Luxe one of the largest and most respected skincare lines in the world.
“Black men deserve products made for them,” she said. “And Bo Luxe delivers results.”
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In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) became the focal point of a high-stakes controversy that has set alarm bells ringing across the nation. At the center of it all? A dramatic reduction in workforce—6,000 employees, to be exact.
While the news of mass layoffs typically doesn’t make for front-page headlines, the ripple effects of this particular decision have sent shockwaves far beyond Washington D.C. What’s more, these layoffs are starting to have very real, and potentially dangerous, consequences for U.S. agriculture, food security, and the economy. But what exactly has been cut, and why does it matter?
A Severe Cut to Expertise: What’s Been Lost?
According to Wired, the USDA wasn’t just shedding staff. These weren’t your typical office workers. The agency has let go of highly trained individuals – inspectors, entomologists, disease-sniffing dog trainers—many of whom had specialized knowledge and years of experience. These professionals were critical in safeguarding the nation’s food supply, ensuring agricultural imports were free from pests and diseases that could devastate crops.
Take the National Dog Detection Training Center, for example. This was a place where beagles and Labradors were trained to detect invasive specieslike the Giant African land snail, a mollusk that poses a serious threat to Florida’s agricultural industries. As one former employee pointed out, the loss of even one such dog—and the expertise behind its training—could make the difference between catching a pest at the border or watching it infest American farms. The impact isn’t just theoretical. It’s happening right now.
It’s All About the Port Crisis
When you consider the sheer volume of goods flowing through U.S. ports, the role of the USDA’s inspection staff becomes clear. Ports like Los Angeles and Miami handle millions of tons of goods each year, much of it agricultural. With 6,000 USDA staff cuts, including a sharp reduction in the Plant Protection and Quarantine teams, the fallout is immediate. In some cases, ports lost as much as 35% of their inspection workforce, significantly slowing the process of screening incoming imports.
What does that mean for the average American consumer? Simply put, more risk. Less inspection means more food could spoil on arrival, or worse, dangerous pests might slip through the cracks. These aren’t just theoretical threats; invasive species like the Asian longhorn beetle and spotted lanternfly could have catastrophic consequences for U.S. agriculture. The already fragile food supply chain is now at even greater risk, creating a perfect storm of supply disruptions and economic consequences.
Higher Prices, Less Food
The economic implications of these cuts are already becoming apparent. Supply chain disruptions are never good for prices, and fewer inspections mean that food could be left to rot while it waits for clearance at the ports. Experts warn that these delays will likely lead to higher grocery prices—especially in smaller towns and rural communities that are more vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
But the problem doesn’t stop with food. Shipping containers, which are supposed to quickly move between ports, are now sitting idle. The backlog means these containers aren’t being reused quickly enough for other goods, creating further bottlenecks in the global supply chain. These ripples are already being felt in other sectors, too, as delays in one area inevitably cause ripple effects elsewhere.
A Legal and Political Tug-of-War
As the disruption continues, legal battles have begun over the fate of the fired employees. While two federal judges have ruled that some workers should be reinstated, the Trump administration has made it clear that it will fight these rulings. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt even described the decisions as “absurd and unconstitutional.”
At this point, it seems like the case is as much about political ideology as it is about the practical implications of the cuts. For now, USDA employees remain in limbo, unsure whether their reinstatement will be more than just a fleeting hope. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking—and the consequences for U.S. agriculture grow more severe by the day.
What’s Next for U.S. Agriculture?
This situation is about much more than just one government initiative. The USDA cuts raise important questions about the future of U.S. agricultural security. As invasive species become a more significant threat, and food security teeters on the edge, the impact of these layoffs will reverberate far beyond food prices.
We’re witnessing a delicate balancing act between government efficiency and public safety—and the consequences of getting it wrong could be catastrophic. Whether these cuts will ultimately be reversed or stand as a testament to a new era of government efficiency remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the stakes are incredibly high.
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By Riley Beggin, USA TODAY Washington, DC | May 22, 2025
Americans could see major changes to Medicaid, food stamps, border security and taxes under a sweeping Republican bill that passed the U. S. House early on May 22.
The proposal, which President Donald Trump has dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” would enact Trump’s major campaign promises like eliminating taxes on workers’ tips and overtime and is likely to be one of the most significant pieces of legislation that will be passed during his second term in the Oval Office.
It passed the House 215-214, with all Democrats and two Republicans – Reps. Th Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio – voting against it after a marathon all-night debate. Republicans had only three ‘no’ votes to spare in the closely-divided House.
As recently as May 20, it wasn’t clear House Republicans would be able to get the bill endorsed by Trump across the finish line.
A handful of Republicans from primarily Democratic states were holding out on raising a tax deduction cap that would benefit their constituents, while fiscal conservatives remained concerned about the cost of the legislation, which is expected to add around $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years. The tax plan has rattled stock markets in recent days as investors worry about the ballooning debt.
Trump met personally with the GOP conference that morning, urging them to stop pushing for more changes and get behind the bill. “Failure is simply not an option,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said after the meeting.
House vote count on Trump tax bill
After several marathon days of negotiations, including a May 21 meeting at the Trump White House, Republican leadership made additional changes and enough lawmakers came on board to pass it.
“What we’re going to do here this morning is truly historic, and it will make all the difference in the daily lives of hard working Americans,” Johnson said in a floor speech shortly before the bill passed.
Apart from Massie and Davidson, three other Republicans did not vote in support of the legislation. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Maryland, voted present, which would have effectively been an opposition vote if the rest of the lawmakers had tied. Harris is the chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, which sought greater cuts in spending in the package.
Reps. David Schweikert of Arizona and Andrew Gabarino of New York missed the vote entirely.
Democrats have slammed the bill as a giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of people who benefit from social safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
“This is one big, ugly bill that House Republicans are trying to jam down the throats of the American people under the cover of darkness,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, said on the House floor in an early morning speech before the final vote.
Still, it has a long way to go before it becomes law. The bill will next go to the Senate, which has already made clear that it plans to make changes. If that happens, the two chambers would still have to hash out the details capable of winning majority votes before they can send it to Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
The clock is ticking: Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent warned that the U.S. is likely to hit the debt ceiling in August, and urged lawmakers to finalize the package – which raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion – before leaving for their summer recess at the end of July.
Trump urges Senate to act swiftly on bill
Trump commended the House passage of the legislation and urged quick Senate action by highlighting priorities such as no taxes on tips, overtime or interest on loans for American-made cars.
He also cited tougher border security measures such as pay raises for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents.
Trump chided Democrats for opposing the measure and supporting “Open Borders” and transgender participants in women’s sports.
“Now, it’s time for our friends in the United States Senate to get to work, and send this Bill to my desk AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!” Trump said in a social media post. “There is no time to waste.”
What is in the bill?
The sweeping House bill is expected to touch many corners of American life, from their wallets and healthcare to the southern border and the national debt.
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered income tax rates for all income groups but disproportionately benefitted the highest earners, is set to expire at the end of 2025. The bill would make those tax rates permanent at an expected cost of more than $2 trillion over the next 10 years.
No taxes on tips and overtime
The bill would also implement temporary tax breaks for tipped wages and overtime, create a new temporary deduction for the interest on loans for American-made cars, and create a new tax deduction for people over age 65. Children under 8 years old could also benefit from a new “Trump” savings account seeded with $1,000 from the federal government.
7.6 million would lose Medicaid
Medicaid, the program that provides health insurance to more than 71 million low-income Americans, would undergo big changes. That includes new work requirements for adults enrolled in Medicaid expansion beginning in December of 2026, more frequent eligibility checks, and disincentives for states to cover unauthorized migrant children, among other provisions.
Collectively, the Medicaid proposal would save at least $625 billion and cause 7.6 million Americans to lose their health insurance over the next 10 years, according to initial estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Trump warned Republicans who wanted to squeeze additional changes out of the health insurance program, telling them “Don’t f‒‒‒ around with Medicaid,” at a May 20 meeting.
The proposal would also implement new requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, which provides assistance to around 42 million Americans. That would save up to $300 billion over the next ten years and shift more of the cost of the program to states.
Big spending on border security, missile defense
The bill would put more than $140 billion toward Trump’s plan to crack down on illegal immigration, including $50 billion for a border wall, $45 billion for detention centers, $8 billion for immigration officers and $14 billion for deportations.
It would also put around $150 billion toward defense spending, including $20 billion that would go, in part, to creating a “Golden Dome” missile defense system that Trump has promoted.
Blue state tax benefits, green energy, vouchers
Residents of high-tax states like New York, California and New Jersey making under $500,000 will be able to claim a deduction of up to $40,000 on their federal returns for taxes paid to their state and local governments – which those holdout lawmakers pushed up from the initially-proposed $30,000. Right now, the cap on that deduction is $10,000.
The bill would eliminate several green energy provisions passed under former President Joe Biden, such as tax credits for electric vehicles and renewable energy, and would accelerate permitting for fossil fuel projects.
Families could use new vouchers collectively worth billions dollars for education outside of public schools, such as for private schools, parochial schools or homeschooling. Meanwhile, private universities could face new taxes for large endowments.
Contributing: Bart Jansen
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Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer but is exploring treatment options and receiving support from national leaders.
By Josh Boak AP | Washington, DC | May 18, 2025
Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday.
The finding came after the 82-year-old reported urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a nodule on his prostate. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his office said. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what’s known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.
When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones. Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.
However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden’s case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones.
Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center.
“It’s very treatable, but not curable,” Smith said. “Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy.”
Many political leaders sent Biden their wishes for his recovery.
President Donald Trump, a longtime political opponent, posted on social media that he was saddened by the news and “we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, said on social media that she was keeping him in her family’s “hearts and prayers during this time.”
“Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” Harris wrote.
Former President Barack Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with Biden, his former vice president, lauding his toughness. “Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace,” Obama wrote on social media.
The health of Biden was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a calamitous debate performance in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Harris became the nominee and lost to Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus.
But in recent days, Biden rejected concerns about his age despite reporting in the new book “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that aides had shielded the public from the extent of his decline while serving as president.
In February 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. And in November 2021, he had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.
In 2022, Biden made a “cancer moonshot” one of his administration’s priorities with the goal of halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015.
His father, when announcing the goal to halve the cancer death rate, said this could be an “American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things.”
___
Associated Press writer Jon Fahey in New York contributed to this report.
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Want to speed up the aging process and damage your long-term health? Have we got just the thing for you!
By Jeanne Dorin McDowell
Aging is a one-way street, and we all travel down its path. But what if you could do one thing today that would slow your body’s aging process?
You can. You can stop eating sugar.
“Sugar is a primary driver of the aging reaction,” says neuroendocrinologist Robert Lustig M. D., professor emeritus of pediatrics and a member of the Institute of Health Policy Studies at the University of California San Francisco. “The more sugar you eat, the quicker the aging will occur. As you get older your cells go downhill, but if you consume a lot of sugar, they go downhill seven times faster.”
Let’s repeat the statistic: Eating a lot of sugar causes your body to age at seven times its natural rate.
We all know that sugar is bad for your teeth and your waistline and that it plays a role in the development of diabetes. But that’s just the beginning of the story. In a study published last July, researchers at UCSF looked at 342 middle-aged women and found the cells, tissues and overall systems of those who followed a diet low in added sugar were biologically younger than their actual age. But for each additional gram of added sugar people ate each day, they were about seven days older than their biological age — regardless of how healthy their diet was otherwise.
“We knew that high levels of added sugars are linked to worsen metabolic health and early disease, possibly more than any other dietary factor,” Elissa Epel, vice chair in the department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at USCF and co-author of the JAMA Network Open study, said in the statement. “Now we know that accelerated epigenetic aging is underlying this relationship, and that this is likely one of the many ways that excessive sugar intake limits healthy longevity.”
“Epigenetic aging” refers to how your body ages based on external factors beyond just the calendar and the natural occurrences that come with it. Stress, pollution a lack of exercise and poor diet are all factors in the epigenetic aging. But added sugar may be the unique among these factors, an aging superpower. And the less you have of it in your life, the better.
What is added sugar?
The sugars that occur naturally in fruits. vegetables grains and dairy are essential to a healthy diet, providing energy and acting as a delivery service for thousands of nutrients in these foods. Indeed, they’ve been found to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and even some cancers.
Added sugars, on the other hand, are the compounds that humans put into their food — from spoonful of sugar in your coffee to the factory-made sweeteners manufacturers add to processed foods to increase flavor and extend its shelf life. These are the sugars that are harmful and accelerate aging. On Food labels they are often the ingredients ending in “ose,” such high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose and maltose, among others.
“Natural” sweeteners can have the same age promoting effects: Cane sugar is almost entirely sucrose. Agave is mostly fructose.
Fructose maybe more harmful than any other sugar molecules because it is primarily metabolized by the liver, where it is readily converted into fat, in excessive amounts, it leads to increase fat accumulation and scarring in the liver. Manufacturers are now required to document added sugars on food labels, so there’s an obvious tip-off if the product contains harmful sugar.
Think of added sugars the way you think of alcohol: The extent of damage to your body is proportionate to the amount you consume, what scientist call “dose dependent.” Every gram of sugar interacts with your body in some way, Lustig says, but it’s the cumulative impact that portends the most damage and drives accelerated aging.
What sugar really does to your body
When sugar molecules bind to proteins and lipids in the body, they form harmful compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These AGEs accumulate in the tissues, reducing their plasticity and flexibility, increasing inflammation, and creating oxidative stress in cells — all of which produce diseases, says Monica Serra, a health scientist administrator for the National Institute on Aging. In blood vessels and arteries, they can increase the risk of heart disease or strokes. In the kidneys, they can contribute to insulin resistance, and in the skin, they can deplete collagen and add to the appearance of aging.
“They affect every tissue in a negative way and a cross your entire lifespan, which is why we try to emphasize healthy habits in childhood,” says Serra. “By the time you get older, you see the impact of these dietary choices, at a time when you have less resilience.”
This is where fructose does its worse damage, says Lustig. “Every time glucose or fructose binds with a protein, you get an oxygen radical. If your body is making radicals faster than you can quench them, your cells undergo damage, and they eventually die. Fructose makes the reaction occur seven times faster and generates 100 times the number of oxygen radicals as glucose. Every time this process occurs, you age faster.”
How Sugar Ages You
Sugar places increased burden on an already aging body, says Dorothy Chiu, a postdoctoral scholar at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health and coauthor of The UCSF study. Getting older puts us at greater risk for disease she says, but “sugar is the. icing on the cake.” Here’s what sugar can do:
Raise dementia risk. Excessive amounts of sugar can increase inflammation and weaken the blood-brain barrier, which can trigger cognitive decline. Serra says. In one study, researchers found that in older adults (average age 79), consuming more sugar may double the risk of developing dementia later in life. “People at the highest risk got 32 percent of their calories from sugar versus the low group consuming only 17 percent of calories from sugar,” says Puja Agarwal, assistant professor of internal medicine at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center and lead author of the study. ”This study tells us consuming higher sugar or calories from sugar may impact risk for dementia.”
Where Added Sugar Lurks
Much of the sugar we east doesn’t come from ice cream and cake. It comes from everyday foods that we don’t associate with sweetness. Here’s a (partial) list of sneaky sugar sources, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(instant oatmeal, & breakfast cereals) (such as peanut butter)
Make your belly bigger. When you eat excessive sugar, your liver metabolizes the fructose compound and converts it into fat, which accumulates in the liver. You gain weight when your liver stores excess fat instead of burning it off as energy. Fat accumulation can lead to higher cholesterol insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.
Hamper your nutritional status. As we get older, our need for calories declines so to maintain the same body weight we need to eat less says Alice H. Lichtenstein, senior scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. “Consuming a diet high in sugar makes it challenging to also include enough healthy foods so that we balance calorie needs and meet our nutrients needs.”
Damage your liver. High sugar intake, especially fructose, can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is an excessive amount of fat in the liver that is associated with an increased risk of developing liver cancer.
Increase your risk of heart disease. Added sugar can elevate your blood pressure, promote chronic inflammation and increase levels of triglycerides, a type of fat that builds up in the bloodstream and increases your risk of heart disease. Excessive sugar intake damages the arteries and puts stress on the heart.
Up your diabetes risk. Sugar causes rampant spikes and blood sugar levels, which can contribute to insulin is resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, and drives other major chronic diseases in older adults. In addition to aging and stress, sugar “can wreak havoc on insulin sensitivity and through various pathways accelerate aging in the body‘s systems.” Says UCSF’s Epel. ”This is one of the most important metrics of health and aging.”
Worsen menopause symptoms. Postmenopausal women are more vulnerable to the effects of sugar because they have lower levels of estrogen and progesterone and become more insulin resistant. Some studies show that high sugar levels are also associated with more hot flashes in menopausal women. It may be because they cause spikes in blood sugar and dramatic drops. “It’s reasonable to conclude that reducing sugar may help reduce hot flashes for some individuals, but it has not been tested, Epel adds.
Promote tooth loss. Sugar can foster bacterial growth in the mouth, which in turn, can produce acid that erodes the enamel on your teeth, causing cavities. Excess sugar can also lead to inflammation of the gums, leading to gum recession and tooth loss.
Bottom line: The occasional sugar indulgence isn’t harmful, but “be selective and only indulge when the option is your favorite.” Lichtenstein says. So yes, have the slice of birthday cake. But don’t have a party every day, OK?
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DeKalb County’s 2025 Senior Olympics promotes fitness, fun, and friendship for adults 50+. Events include basketball, swimming, track, and more across multiple venues
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | May 6, 2025
Seniors from across DeKalb County are lacing up their sneakers and getting ready to compete. The 36th Annual DeKalb County Senior Olympic Games began on Monday, May 5, and will run through May 16. The opening ceremony was held at the Exchange Intergenerational Recreation Center in Decatur, where dozens of participants gathered with family and friends to kick off the games.
This event is for residents aged 50 and older and offers them a chance to compete in Olympic-style games across the county. This festival celebrates movement, friendship, and healthy aging, from swimming to bowling, basketball to line dancing.
Celebrating Strength and Spirit
Participants can enter as individuals or as part of a team. Gold, silver, and bronze will be awarded to the top three finishers in each event. Events are spread out across DeKalb County at various venues to ensure everyone has access.
Some of the featured competitions include:
3-on-3 basketball
Track and field events like the 50-yard dash and softball throw
Pickleball (singles and doubles)
Swimming races in different strokes and distances
Table tennis and billiards
Golf and card games
Water volleyball and line dancing
Seniors needing transportation help are encouraged to contact MARTA Mobility at 404-848-5389.
A Message of Motivation
Two-time Olympic gold medalist DeeDee Trotter opened the games with a powerful message. Once labeled an underdog, Trotter told the crowd how she turned that label into fuel for greatness. Her long career in track and field brought her multiple titles, including Olympic medals and national championships.
After retiring from sports, Trotter followed a new dream — baking. She graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta as valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA and is now the Executive Pastry Chef at a top golf club. She also runs her own bakery, “Taste of Gold.” Trotter’s story reminded everyone that it’s never too late to chase your goals.
A Community Committed to Health
The Senior Olympic Games are hosted each May by DeKalb County’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs to celebrate Older Americans Month. The goal is to help seniors stay active, social, and healthy.
“It’s no secret that baby boomers are entering their golden years,” said a department spokesperson. “We want to help them do that with strength and joy. Staying fit and active is the best answer to aging.”
This year, more than 30 events are featured. Some, like the football toss and standing long jump, focus on mobility and coordination. Others, like card games and dominoes, are designed to keep the mind sharp and the spirit engaged.
“It’s not just about competition,” said Damon Scott, Director of Human Services. “It’s about building community, having fun, and proving to ourselves that age is just a number.”
Local Leaders Lend Support
The opening ceremony featured remarks from several community leaders, including:
DeKalb CEO & Commissioners
Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, DeKalb County CEO
Mereda Johnson, District 5 Commissioner
Nicole Massiah, District 3 Commissioner
LeDena Bolton, Super District 7 Commissioner
Damon Scott, Director of Human Services
Remy Epps, City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Director
Each speaker highlighted the importance of staying active in later life and praised the Senior Olympics as a model for healthy living.
“Our seniors are the heart of DeKalb County,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “They have raised families, built careers, and shaped this community. Now, we get to celebrate their strength and perseverance.”
Beyond the Games
For many participants, the games are about more than medals. They’re a chance to see old friends, meet new ones, and feel the joy of movement. Some use the games to try new activities for the first time. Others are seasoned competitors who look forward to the event every year.
DeKalb Seniors Line Dancing before Olympics
The games also offer a chance for families to come together. Organizers encourage younger relatives to cheer on their elders and even sign up to volunteer. “It brings the whole family into the fitness mindset,” said one event organizer.
For those who aren’t competing, volunteering is another way to get involved. Helpers are needed to set up events, track scores, and cheer on athletes. “Every smile, every clap, every word of encouragement matters,” said LeDena Bolton, Commissioner for Super District 7.
A Growing Tradition
The DeKalb County Senior Olympics began more than three decades ago with a simple mission: to keep older adults moving. Since then, it has grown into a beloved community tradition that draws hundreds of participants every year.
“Every year, we see more people joining and more energy in the air,” said Nicole Massiah, District 3 Commissioner. “This event is proof that you can age with power and purpose.”
With health at the center of the event, organizers also offer information on wellness programs, nutrition, and preventive care. Some venues even provide health screenings during the games.
As one participant put it, “You come for the games, but you leave with a new reason to stay active all year.”
Looking Ahead
The 2025 DeKalb Senior Olympics run until May 16, with a closing ceremony to celebrate all participants and volunteers. This final showcase will include awards, performances, and community tributes.
The Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs hopes this year’s games inspire even more seniors to get involved. “Our mission is to promote healthy lifestyles through fun, fitness, and play,” said an official. “We are looking forward to seeing even more smiling faces next year.”
For registration or information on events and volunteering, visit the county’s website or contact the recreation department directly.
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AARP urges a national aging plan as states adopt strategies to support older adults with health care, housing, caregiving, and financial security amid rising senior populations.
America needs a plan to help its older citizens—and soon
By Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO
Most Americans understand the importance of planning to secure their economic futures and advance directives to prepare for their health care as they age. But for too long, there has been no federal action plan to protect our nation’s growing older population.
By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older. Yet many government policies and programs have not addressed the unique needs of the aging population.
Photo Courtesy of Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO
AARP has a plan to help change that.
The good news is that a growing number of states are developing and adopting comprehensive plans to support their aging population. AARP has been deeply involved in supporting those efforts. About half the states have implemented, developed or initiated multiyear strategies, commonly known as multisector plans for aging (MPAs). Although state MPAs vary in scope—and in their goals and target populations—they all encourage collaboration among governments, private entities and people.
Yet there is no comparable national plan. The federal government has recently taken steps toward developing such a strategy. The Older Americans Act reauthorization of 2020 set up an Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities (ICC). The committee issued a Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging in May.
Among other things, the report focused on age-friendly communities, housing, increased access to long-term support and better health care services, especially for people with low incomes. To get input from older Americans, the ICC holds listening sessions across the country. AARP helps organize these discussions, which kicked off in Washington, D.C., in May.
AARP wants to play a more critical role in this process. We recently released our own vision for a national plan on aging—part of our Aging Well in America Initiative.
AARP’s report emphasizes four goals that can help guide efforts to establish a national plan, along with the policies for implementing those goals.
Promote healthy living and access to affordable, high-quality health care.
Support family caregivers and affordable, high-quality longterm care with dignity, independence and security.
Provide ample opportunities to achieve financial security.
Create age-friendly, livable communities that enable people to age in place.
AARP will continue to work with states and expand our own initiatives that have helped make our communities more livable for older residents and have fostered better aging policies at the local and state level. We’re committed to the development of a national plan on aging that will enable all people to maintain good health, build financial resilience and remain in their homes and communities as they age.
With the population aging at a rate never seen in history, it’s time for policymakers, government officials and organizations involved in aging to seize the opportunity to address the needs of older Americans now and into the future.
U.S. measles cases have surpassed 700 in 2025, driven by outbreaks in Texas and other undervaccinated areas, with three deaths and CDC response efforts underway.
By Devi Shastri |AP Health Writer | April 14, 2025
The number of U.S. measles cases topped 700 as of last week, as Indiana joined the growing list of states with active outbreaks, Texas tallied dozens of new cases, and a third measles-related death was made public.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed in a televised Cabinet meeting Thursday that measles cases were plateauing nationally, but the virus continues to spread mostly in people who are unvaccinated, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention redeployed a team to west Texas.
The United States has more than double the number of measles cases it saw in all of 2024, and Texas is reporting the majority of them, with 541 as of last week’s updated count.
Texas’ cases include two unvaccinated elementary school-age children who died from measles-related illnesses near the epicenter of the outbreak in rural west Texas, which led Kennedy to visit the community this month. The third person who died was an adult in New Mexico who also was not vaccinated.
Other states with active outbreaks — defined as having three or more cases — include New Mexico, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma.
The multistate outbreak confirms health experts’ fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread could stretch on for a year. The World Health Organization has said cases in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and had been considered eliminated from the U.S. in 2000.
Here’s what else you need to know about measles in the U.S.
Photo Annie Rice Associated Press
Texas and New Mexico
Texas’ outbreak began in late January. State health officials said Friday that there were 36 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to 541 across 22 counties — most of them in west Texas. A total of 56 Texans have been hospitalized throughout the outbreak.
Of the confirmed cases, state health officials estimated Friday that about 5% are actively infectious.
Sixty-five percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has logged 355 cases since late January — just over 1% of the county’s residents.
The latest death in Texas was that of an 8-year-old child. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A 6-year-old died of measles in Texas in late February.
New Mexico announced two new cases Friday, bringing the state’s total to 58. State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. Most are in Lea County, where two people have been hospitalized, two are in Eddy County and one is in Chaves County.
New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult on March 6.
Kansas
Kansas has 32 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state, health officials announced Wednesday. Two of the counties, Finney and Ford, are new on the list and are major population centers in that part of the state. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six, and the rest have five or fewer.
The state’s first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.
Oklahoma
Cases in Oklahoma increased by two Friday to 12 total: nine confirmed and three probable cases. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the west Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said.
A health department spokesperson said measles exposures were confirmed in Tulsa and Rogers counties, but wouldn’t say which counties had cases.
Ohio
The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 20 measles cases in the state as of Thursday: 11 in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, seven in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties.
Ohio is not including nonresidents in its count, a state health department spokesperson told the Associated Press. The Knox County outbreak in east-central Ohio has infected 14 people, according to a news release from the county health department, but seven of them do not live in Ohio. In 2022, a measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85.
The outbreak in Ashtabula County started with an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally.
Indiana
Indiana confirmed six connected cases of measles in Allen County in the northeast part of the state; four are unvaccinated minors and two are adults whose vaccination status is unknown.
The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said Wednesday. The first case was confirmed April 7.
Elsewhere
Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or more related cases. The agency counted seven clusters that qualified as outbreaks in 2025 as of Friday.
In the U.S., cases and outbreaks are frequently traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. It can then spread, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases. So far in 2025, the CDC’s count is 712.
Is a measles booster necessary?
The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.
People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.
Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or having been born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.
A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but experts don’t always recommend it and health insurance plans may not cover it.
Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.
People who have documentation of having received a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.
What are the symptoms?
Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.
The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees, according to the CDC.
Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.
How can you treat measles?
There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.
Why do vaccination rates matter?
In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called herd immunity.
But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic, and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.
The U.S. saw a rise in measles cases in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that sickened more than 60.
Shastri writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Laura Ungar contributed to this report.
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Join Emory experts at the 28th Brain Health Forum on April 29, 2025, to learn about memory loss, dementia, and healthy aging strategies.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | April 2, 2025
Community members interested in brain health and aging are invited to attend the 28th Brain Health Forum, hosted by the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Emory University.https://alzheimers.emory.edu/
The in-person event will take place on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, and will feature leading experts from Emory discussing the latest research on memory loss and dementia. Topics will include risk factors for cognitive decline, how to promote healthy aging, and why dementia research matters more than ever.
Organizers say the forum offers practical advice for staying mentally sharp and preventing disease. Attendees will also learn how lifestyle choices can impact long-term brain health.
“This forum is a great chance for people to hear directly from top researchers and get easy-to-follow tips on aging well,” said a spokesperson for the center.
The event is run by the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Emory. Each year, their team brings top doctors and researchers to speak. They explain brain science in ways that are easy to understand.
You’ll hear the latest news on memory loss and dementia. You’ll learn what puts people at risk. You’ll also get tips on how to stay sharp as you age.
There’s a good reason this forum matters now more than ever. Each year in the U.S., about 514,000 new cases of dementia are diagnosed in adults aged 65 and older. That number is expected to double by the year 2060.
As of 2024, about 6.9 million older Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common kind of dementia. It slowly damages memory, thinking, and behavior.
Photo by Milton Kirby
Dementia affects not only the person who has it, but also their families. People often need care for many years. That’s why learning about it now is so important.
The forum will also talk about how brain health affects different groups. Research shows that Black Americans are more likely to get dementia than white Americans.
Doctors think there are several reasons for this. One reason is health problems that are more common in Black communities. These include high blood pressure and diabetes. Both can raise the risk of dementia.
Other reasons include fewer resources. Many Black Americans face barriers in education, income, and access to good healthcare. These lifelong challenges can increase dementia risk.
There is also a problem with diagnosis. Black adults are less likely to be diagnosed correctly or early. That means they may not get the help they need in time.
At the forum, speakers will talk about how to fix these problems. They’ll share steps people can take to protect their memory and thinking skills. They’ll also talk about how lifestyle choices—like exercise, sleep, and healthy food—can help your brain.
The forum will give clear advice you can use right away. Whether you’re a caregiver, a senior, or just someone who wants to learn, there’s something for everyone.
You’ll leave with new knowledge and practical tools. You’ll also learn why research is key to finding better treatments and maybe even a cure.
Brain health is for everyone. And the more you know, the more you can do to protect it.
Don’t miss this free event. Sign up today and take the first step in caring for your brain.
