ATLANTA — On Saturday, October 18, hundreds of seniors filled the Wolf Creek Amphitheater for a joyful and determined attempt to set a new Guinness World Record. The goal: the largest senior health awareness fitness class ever organized.
Led by energetic fitness coach DaShaun Johnson, the crowd stretched, stepped, and moved in sync for nearly an hour. The effort came just 83 participants shy of setting a new global mark, but the day was far from a loss.
“What we did here today was bigger than any record,” Johnson said. “We moved together — as one community — and that’s what this is all about.”
The event, presented by the City of South Fulton in partnership with The Guru of Abs, drew seniors, caregivers, and family members from across metro Atlanta. Volunteers, sponsors, and local wellness organizations filled the amphitheater with energy, resources, and encouragement.
A Day of Movement and Motivation
The day began with warm ups and motivational music before Johnson led a full-body session designed to be inclusive for all mobility levels. From chair-based stretches to low-impact cardio, participants showed that age is no barrier to movement.
“While we did not break the Guinness record, to see all of these seniors here investing in their health is truly amazing,” said Leslie McGuffie, Chief Operating Officer of Axxess Benefit Consultants.
Many seniors said they came not for a record, but for connection.
“It feels good to know we’re part of something that celebrates us,” said participant Margaret Allen of East Point. “You’re never too old to take care of yourself.”
Why Senior Fitness Matters
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults aged 65 and older need at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week. Regular activity helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
The popular SilverSneakers program, which provides free gym access for many older adults through Medicare, reports that consistent exercise improves balance, boosts mood, and reduces falls — the leading cause of injury among seniors.
“Events like this do more than raise awareness,” said wellness coordinator Tasha Greene. “They remind our elders that they are seen, valued, and capable.”
Building a Culture of Wellness
Organizers say the near-record turnout has inspired plans for a larger attempt next year. The City of South Fulton plans to continue promoting senior wellness programs throughout 2026, including walking clubs, nutrition workshops, and free exercise classes.
“We may have missed the record this time,” Johnson said with a smile, “but next year, we’ll make sure the world knows Atlanta’s seniors are unstoppable.”
No matter your age, the fitness journey can continue. With proper guidance and a consistent regimen, movement at any stage of life can improve health outcomes and quality of living.
Senior Fitness by the Numbers
150 minutes of weekly activity recommended for adults 65+.
28% of adults over 65 are inactive, per CDC.
25% reduction in risk of early death for active seniors.
40% fewer falls reported among seniors who exercise regularly.
The Power of Community Wellness
Social engagement improves mental health and reduces isolation.
Group exercise increases consistency and motivation.
Community-based programs can improve local health outcomes by up to 20%, according to public health studies.
October marks 40 years of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Know the signs, close the gaps, and act early. Every story is unique. Every journey matters. Get screened
By Milton Kirby | Decatur, GA | October 19, 2025
Why This Month Still Matters
This October marks 40 years of Breast Cancer Awareness Month — four decades of breakthroughs, bravery, and a global pink movement.
The 2025 theme, “Every Story Is Unique, Every Journey Matters,” is both a reflection and a rallying cry. Behind every pink ribbon is a story of survival, strength, and ongoing struggle.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in the United States. About 316,000 new invasive cases are expected this year. Earlier detection, modern therapies, and awareness campaigns have improved survival rates, saving over half a million lives since 1989.
Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast grow out of control. Most cases (70–80%) start in the milk ducts, while others begin in the lobules (10–15%).
When cancer spreads into nearby tissue, it becomes invasive breast cancer. If it reaches distant parts of the body — such as the lungs, liver, or bones — it becomes metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
Today, about 170,000 women in the U.S. live with MBC. Though not curable, it can be managed with targeted therapies and compassionate care. Organizations like Susan G. Komen, Breastcancer.org, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation offer trusted information and support networks for patients and caregivers.
When Breast Cancer Affects Men
Breast cancer in men is rare — less than 1% of all cases — but it does occur. The lifetime risk is about 1 in 1,000 for men, compared with 1 in 8 for women. Symptoms include a painless lump, nipple changes, or redness.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) notes that men are often diagnosed later because they’re less likely to recognize the signs.
Black men have the highest incidence and mortality rates, a disparity that experts say demands greater awareness and screening equity.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Fast and Fierce
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) represents 1–5% of all diagnoses and is one of the most aggressive forms. It typically appears as redness or swelling rather than a lump. According to the NCI, IBC progresses rapidly and is more common among younger and African American women.
Treatment involves a multimodal approach — chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Foundations like the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation are leading targeted studies to better understand and treat this form of the disease.
The Power of Progress
Since 1989, U.S. breast-cancer deaths have declined 44%, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
That progress reflects improved screenings, expanded research, and the courage of survivors who share their stories. Still, racial and economic disparities persist — Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Closing that gap remains a central goal of the awareness movement.
Screenings Save Lives
Early detection changes everything. The American Cancer Society and Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) recommend individualized screening schedules based on age and risk.
Know the signs:
New lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
Change in breast shape or size
Dimpling, puckering, or redness
Nipple inversion or unusual discharge
Pain or swelling in the breast or chest
A Survivor’s Voice: “It’s Going to Be Alright”
For Beverly, a 24-year breast cancer survivor from North Carolina, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is far more than an annual observance — it’s a celebration of endurance, faith, and family.
She was first diagnosed in 2002 at just 48. “The mammogram caught it early,” she recalled. “I was afraid of everything — the diagnosis, the treatment, the unknown.” Before surgery, she remembers hearing her late grandmother’s voice say softly, “It’s going to be alright.”
“When I told my mother, who had also survived breast cancer, she said, ‘That’s nothing,’” Beverly laughed, remembering that first round of treatment. “My family has lived this — my mother, grandmother, my aunt, who’s now less than 30 days from 85 years strong, and even my great-grandfather. We’ve all faced it.”
Twelve years later, Beverly discovered a small lump under her arm. “I was just looking and feeling my armpits when I noticed it,” she said. “It had come back — same side, left side.” Her oncologist confirmed the cancer had returned in her lymph nodes.
This time, the treatment was more aggressive — chemotherapy, radiation, and years of medication. She credits her husband, Ted, as her constant support. He’s been my listener, my quiet presence, and my driver. When I didn’t need words, he just stayed close — and he’s become an expert tea brewer” she smiled.
One of her hardest moments came when she had to tell her then nine-year-old son. “He saw the calls and cards and said, ‘I hope you don’t have cancer.’ That opened the door for us to talk openly — to face it together.”
It has now been ten years since Beverly completed her second bout with breast cancer, including the aggressive treatment and follow-up medication regimen. This past August, her care team finally permitted her to discontinue the inhibitors.
Since that first diagnosis, Beverly has made gratitude and wellness her daily focus. “Every day, I try to live with intention and thankfulness,” she said. “Even on tough days, I remind myself: I’m still here — and that’s reason enough.”
The 10 Screenings Women Should Know
(Source: National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.)
Health Screening
Who Needs It
Why You Need It
Well-Woman Exam
Women 18+
Preventive check-up for overall and reproductive health.
Breast Cancer Screening
Women 40+*
Mammograms detect breast cancer early, when treatment is most effective.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Women 21+*
Detects abnormal cervical cells before they become cancerous.
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Women 45+*
Identifies and removes precancerous polyps to prevent colorectal cancer.
Lung Cancer Screening
Women 50+* at high risk
Detects lung cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
Skin Cancer Screening
Women at high risk*
Detects early skin cancers for prompt treatment.
Cholesterol Screening
Women 40+* (can start in 20s)
Detects high cholesterol linked to heart disease and stroke.
Blood Pressure Screening
Women 18+*
Identifies hypertension, a leading risk for heart attack and stroke.
Diabetes Screening
Women with risk factors*
Detects diabetes or prediabetes before symptoms appear.
Bone Density Screening
Women 60+*
Measures bone strength to prevent fractures and osteoporosis.
Certain factors such as family history, prior cancer, gene mutations, or other risks may require earlier or more frequent screenings. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized recommendations.
Beyond Medicine: The Human Side of Healing
A breast-cancer diagnosis tests both body and spirit. Emotional and financial support are vital. CancerCare offers free counseling and grants. Living Beyond Breast Cancer connects survivors through education and peer support. Clinical partners like Medpace Oncology continue advancing therapies to improve quality of life worldwide.
Research and Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are shaping the future of breast cancer care. The National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Database lists open studies nationwide. Participation helps move science forward — for patients today and those yet to be diagnosed.
Every Story Matters
From lab breakthroughs to late-night conversations in waiting rooms, every act of awareness is an act of care.
This October, honor the survivors, remember the lost, and encourage someone you love to schedule their screening. Because after 40 years, the message still holds true: every story is unique, every journey matters.
By Stacy M Brown | BlackpressUSA Newsiwre | October 9, 2025
Across America, families are being broken not by illness alone, but by the quiet cruelty of denial letters from insurance companies. Patients in crisis are told their care is not medically necessary. Others learn too late that their coverage has been canceled. The denials come swiftly, the appeals take months, and the system often feels rigged against the very people it was built to protect.
A ProPublica investigation revealed just how devastating those denials can be. In North Carolina, Teressa Sutton-Schulman and her husband, identified as “L” to protect his privacy, endured escalating mental health crises. After two suicide attempts in 11 days, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield repeatedly denied payment for psychiatric treatment. Hidden on page seven of a denial letter was a single line about a right to an external review. Desperate, Sutton-Schulman filed for that review. An independent physician overturned the insurer’s decision and forced the company to pay for more than $70,000 in care, ProPublica reported. “Appeal, appeal, appeal, appeal,” said Kaye Pestaina, a vice president at the nonprofit health policy group KFF, who has studied external appeals. “That’s all you have,” she told ProPublica.
The right to an external appeal was expanded by the Affordable Care Act in 2010, but the protections are uneven. Karen Pollitz, who helped draft the federal regulations under the Obama administration, told ProPublica that insurance lobbyists weakened the process. She said only a fraction of denials are eligible for external review and, in most cases, insurers still choose the reviewers who decide the fate of patients’ appeals. “There are all kinds of ways they could strengthen the laws and the regulations to hold health plans more accountable,” she said. Even when laws exist, few Americans know where to turn. That is why state-based consumer assistance programs, established under the Affordable Care Act, have become a vital safety net — though many states never created them, and others have defunded theirs. About 30 states still operate programs that guide patients through internal and external appeals, while the rest leave families largely alone.
“Every state needs one of these programs,” said Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of private coverage at Families USA. “Health care is so complicated, and people really need experts to turn to,” she told ProPublica. Those experts are often housed in attorney general offices, state insurance departments, or nonprofit agencies. Maryland’s Health Education and Advocacy Unit, for example, has been a lifeline for residents struggling with denied care. “The numbers are low because some people just give up. They’re frustrated. They’re tired. They’re battling cancer,” said Kimberly Cammarata, the unit’s director. “And sometimes the information about why the claim was denied or about how to appeal is terribly unclear. A lot of these outcome letters will say you have a right to an external appeal, but they don’t exactly tell you where to go,” she told ProPublica.
In New York, the Community Service Society operates a similar program, where advocates draft detailed appeals on behalf of patients. “We can help people write their appeals,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of health initiatives at the Community Service Society. “We write appeals for them, sometimes going through thousands of pages of medical records and writing 15- to 20-page appeals,” she told ProPublica. Across the nation, CMS documents show an uneven patchwork of help. In California, consumers can call the Department of Insurance Ombudsman at 1-800-927-4357 for help with denied claims. In Georgia, the Office of Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner fields appeals and complaints from residents at 1-800-656-2298. In Illinois, the Department of Insurance maintains a consumer hotline at 1-866-445-5364. New York’s Department of Financial Services handles cases through its consumer division, while Pennsylvania residents can reach the state Insurance Department at 1-877-881-6388. Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia all continue to run active programs through their respective attorney general or ombudsman offices.
Still, millions of Americans remain in states without fully funded consumer assistance programs. For those individuals, even knowing that an external appeal exists is a struggle. ProPublica found that the process is buried under jargon, hidden in small print, or placed deep within denial letters that few patients have the time or emotional strength to decode. Experts say one step can make a difference: persistence. “Appeal, appeal, appeal” has become a mantra not only for patients but for advocates who have watched insurers exploit confusion and fatigue to wear people down.
For urgent cases, the law allows expedited reviews that must be resolved within 72 hours. If the independent reviewer overturns the denial, the insurer is required by law to pay. When that happens, the victory is binding. But the system was never designed for easy victories. Most patients never reach that point. Many die waiting. And yet, despite the exhaustion and the heartbreak, people keep fighting. From North Carolina to California, from New York to Georgia, they continue to challenge billion-dollar corporations that have learned to profit from denial. What unites them is not just the pursuit of care, but a demand for fairness — a demand that too often goes unanswered. “Every state needs one of these programs,” Fish-Parcham said again. “Health care is so complicated, and people really need experts to turn to.”
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Nearly 30 Atlanta seniors joined SilverSneakers and Kroc Atlanta Center’s free 2K walk, highlighting fitness, fellowship, and healthy aging in the Pittsburgh community.
Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 1, 2025
Nearly 50 local seniors laced up their walking shoes on Tuesday morning as SilverSneakers and The Salvation Army’s Kroc Atlanta Center teamed up to host a free 2K walk in the heart of Atlanta. The event gave older adults of all fitness levels a chance to get moving, meet new friends, and discover resources for healthy living.
The walkers, wearing numbered bibs, circled the Kroc Center’s indoor track 16 times to complete the 2K distance. Along the way they enjoyed a group warm-up, music, prize giveaways, and a cool-down session to finish strong. For some, it was their first organized walk; for others, it was another step in a lifelong commitment to staying active.
“Seeing the energy and camaraderie at this event in Atlanta displayed the power of community,” said Melissa Anthony, Regional Growth Manager for SilverSneakers. “More than just a run, it was incredible to witness the visible boost in confidence each participant demonstrated when they completed those 16 laps. Our top walker got in more than 10,000 steps.”
The program highlights an important message: staying active is central to healthy aging. With seniors now the fastest-growing age group in the United States, SilverSneakers has built its reputation by providing fun, low-pressure opportunities to help older adults maintain mobility and confidence.
Local partners Humana, Paradise Smoothies & Juice Bar, and JenCare Senior Medical Center joined in to support the event, providing refreshments and information about senior health resources.
The Kroc Atlanta Center, a 53,500-square-foot community hub in the city’s Pittsburgh neighborhood, provided a fitting backdrop. More than a gym, the center offers space for worship, arts, education, and recreation. Its facilities range from a multi-use gymnasium and computer labs to performing arts stages and community meeting rooms.
“Our mission is to be a beacon of hope and a gathering place for all,” said a Kroc Center representative. “This walk shows how seniors can come together to strengthen not only their bodies, but also their sense of belonging.”
The Salvation Army Kroc Centers trace their roots back to Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc. After seeing firsthand how underserved communities lacked safe, welcoming spaces, she donated more than $1.5 billion to build centers nationwide. Today, 26 Kroc Centers carry forward her vision of nurturing children’s potential, supporting families, and strengthening neighborhoods.
Tuesday’s walk was the first of two group events planned this year. Organizers say seniors of all abilities are invited to join the next one.
For the participants, however, it wasn’t just about distance or steps—it was about being seen, supported, and celebrated. As one participant remarked after crossing the finish line, “It feels good to know I can still do this—and I’m not doing it alone.”
Charlie Kirk’s accused assassin, Tyler Robinson, had childhood firearm obsession; investigators cite rooftop sniper attack, political motive, and disturbing family photos in Utah arrest.
By Mataeo Smith | Orem, UT | September 12, 2025
Investigators claim that the alleged assassin who killed Charlie Kirk had a childhood obsession with firearms.
The 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was identified on Friday as the suspected assailant who shot Kirk during the conservative influencer’s protest on Wednesday at Utah Valley University. Robinson was spotted liking firearms as a child and seemed to regularly visit shooting ranges, according to social media posts from his family.
One photo from when Robinson looked like a teenager showed him holding a scoped rifle, while another showed him with an M2 Browning 50. caliber machine gun. A bazooka was in his hand in a third picture.
His mother shared pictures of Robinson and his two younger siblings at military functions and shooting ranges on Facebook. Amber Robinson was pictured clutching a US Army machine gun with pride in one of her posts.
As his family dressed in similar red clothes for Christmas 2017, Tyler Robinson was spotted with a brand-new iPhone and his brother a “build it yourself” gun kit.
Another photo from that year’s social media posts by Robinson’s mother showed him dressed as Donald Trump for Halloween. FBI Director Kash Patel and other officials identified Robinson as the suspected assassin who killed Kirk from a rooftop about 200 yards away using a Mauser 98 bold-action rifle on Friday.
Robinson was arrested Thursday evening in southern Utah, according to law enforcement authorities who spoke to the Daily Mail. Approximately 260 miles south of Kirk’s killing site in Orem, he resides in a six-bedroom, $600,000 mansion in Washington, Utah.
According to people who spoke to the Mail, the accused murderer confessed to his father, Matt. He was persuaded to talk to a local youth preacher who was also employed by the US Marshals Service after he allegedly told his father that he would rather commit suicide than give himself in.
Amber Robinson, his mother, is employed by Intermountain Support Coordination Services, a state-contracted organization that assists in the care of individuals with disabilities. According to internet records, both of his parents are registered Republicans.
According to individuals who spoke to the Daily Mail, Robinson attended Utah State University on a scholarship for just one semester in 2021.
According to a probable cause affidavit, he is charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a handgun causing serious bodily damage, and obstruction of justice.
At a press conference Thursday evening, authorities stated that Robinson would be executed if found guilty. Utah Governor Spencer Cox opened his remarks at a press conference Friday morning by saying, “We got him.”
“The question is, what sort of watershed?” Cox said, referring to Kirk’s killing as a ‘watershed point’ in American history.
He stated that Robinson’s relatives had told detectives that he had recently become more political and had told them that he didn’t like Kirk, calling him “full of hate.”
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Skin cancer can appear in unexpected ways, beyond the classic mole warning signs. Learn how to spot “ugly ducklings,” reduce risks, and protect yourself with timely checks
The disease can show up in unexpected ways on your body. Here’s what to look for
By Abby Alten Schwartz | August 31, 2025
CAN I SHOW you one more thing?”
I was at the dermatologist’s office for my semiannual skin check, and he’d just finished the exam. But something was still gnawing at me.
“I have this tiny rough spot on the bridge of my nose. If I scrub it off, it bleeds,” I said.
He looked at it under the magnifying light.
“It could be precancerous. Let’s freeze it and see if it comes back,” he said, spraying it with liquid nitrogen. It did come back, twice, so I made an appointment for a biopsy. I felt only a pinch of the needle numbing the area before the doctor shaved off a thin layer of skin for testing.
A week later he called with the results: squamous cell carcinoma in situ. In situ meant it had not spread past the top layer, but because this early-stage cancer could become invasive, my doctor recommended Mohs surgery to ensure all of it was removed. The following week I had the procedure.
What Is Mohs Surgery? ALSO KNOWN as Mohs micrographic surgery, this procedure—performed under local anesthesia with the patient awake—is successful up to 99 percent of the time for untreated skin cancer (94 percent for reoccurring cancers) and produces minimal scarring. The surgeon removes a thin layer of tissue and, while you wait, examines it under a microscope. The process is repeated until the tissue shows clean margins (no cancer cells remain).
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
My father died of stage 4 melanoma when he was 76, so I take skin cancer seriously. Yet even though I was religious about getting annual exams, it turns out that wasn’t enough. On top of dermatology exams every year (or more frequently, based on your history), monthly self-checks at home are important, says Karen Stolman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with Park City Dermatology in Utah and a spokesperson for the Skin Cancer Foundation.
“You’re just looking for something that’s new or unexpected or a change that you don’t think is right for your skin,” Stolman explains. “You don’t have to know what you’re looking at or diagnose it.”
When I began seeing a dermatologist in my early 40s, I was skeptical I’d notice any new moles or marks. But by paying attention, I’ve become familiar with the landscape of my skin. I’m learning that skin cancer (and precancer) can take on a different texture or appearance than the classic signs people are usually told to watch out for.
LOOK FOR THE UGLY DUCKLINGS
Dermatologists have done a pretty good job educating the public about malignant melanoma, says Mix J. Charles, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and chairman of the department of dermatology at Duly Health and Care in Hinsdale, Illinois. One of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, melanoma often begins as a brown or black mole that becomes larger or irregular. When you google “warning signs of skin cancer,” what you’ll typically get are the ABCDE’s of melanoma:
Asymmetry: Two halves that don’t match
Border: Irregular, scalloped or poorly defined edges
Color: Multiple colors or shades
Diameter: The size of a pencil eraser (can start smaller)
Evolving: Changes in size, shape, color or presentation (itching, bleeding, crusty, raised)
While these signs are important, the two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma—typically present in other ways, including:
A reddish irritated area or open sore that persists (may crust, bleed or ooze)
A pearly bump or nodule (clear or pink; may be pigmented in people of color)
A small pink or elevated growth (crusted indentation in center, raised edges, may bleed)
A scar-like area (often with poorly defined borders)
A wart-like growth (may crust or bleed)
The precancers that dermatologists find daily, called actinic kera-toses, start out pink or red and scaly, “and they’re typically where we’ve had the most sun,” Stolman says.
A good takeaway is to look for the “ugly duckling,” says Kelly Nelson, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and professor of dermatology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “If you have one thing on your skin that is looking or behaving in a way that’s different, that one thing should probably be evaluated by a doctor,” she explains.
Though skin cancer occurs most often in people with fair complexions, Nelson says it can strike anyone, even in patients with very dark skin. Because of misperception that people of color don’t develop skin cancer, they – and their physicians – may not be on the lookout. As a result, skin cancer is often diagnosed at later stage in patients of color. (Several brands of sunscreen – such as Black Girl Sunscreen, Bold Brightening Moisturizer and EltaMD UV Clear – that are now available can protect people with darker skin without leaving a dull white coating.)
PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT CHECKUP NOW
Skin cancer is of increasing concern as we age. Stolman says today’s precancer may be from sun damage 10 to 20 years ago, but it can also build over time with each exposure. In addition, “with age, our immune system becomes less capable of protecting us from all forms of cancer, including skin cancer.”
Staying on top of your risk positions you to take advantage of breakthrough skin cancer treatments. In February 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved Amtagvi (lifileucel), the first cellular therapy for advanced melanoma. It follows a number of recent breakthroughs on this form of skin cancer, which accounts for the majority of fatalities from the disease.
I keep a list on my phone of suspicious spots to ask about at my next checkup. If something new appears that I’m especially worried about, I’ll make an appointment right away. It doesn’t hurt to take a photo of anything that looks odd so you can track how it changes over time.
If you don’t already have a dermatologist, it can be a long wait for an opening. Try elsewhere if a practice can’t see you within three months. You can also ask your primary care provider to take an initial look and help with a referral or next steps.
A Dose of Prevention
If you’ve had multiple precancerous or cancerous spots in one area (especially on sun-exposed parts), several therapies can help prevent future cancers. These “field treatments” are intended only for actinic keratoses or superficial skin cancers (early basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas affecting the top layer of skin).
Fluorouracil (5-FU), a topical chemotherapy cream, is applied once or twice a day for several weeks to target cancer cells near the skin’s surface. The treated skin can become red and sensitive until it heals.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a topical light-sensitive drug that is absorbed into precancerous cells. A special light activates the drug and destroys them. The therapy usually needs to be repeated every Ito 5 years.
Additional therapies for sun damage include fractional laser therapy as well as carbon dioxide laser and chemical peels, which may be less effective.
Abby Alten Schwartz has reported on health and relationships for Wired, Salon and other publications.
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Senator Raphael Warnock visited Georgia farms, hospitals, and small businesses, warning Trump tariffs and GOP tax cuts threaten farmers, rural hospitals, and small business survival statewide.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | August 20, 2025
U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock spent the past week crisscrossing Georgia, meeting with farmers, health care providers, and small business owners to highlight the economic risks he says stem from former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and the recently passed GOP tax bill.
Tariffs Burden Georgia Farmers
On Saturday, Warnock toured Three Bees Pecan Farm in Wrens with owner Jeb Barrow Jr., meeting local producers to discuss the financial uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policy. Georgia farmers, already operating on thin margins, said shifting trade rules make it difficult to plan investments and sustain jobs.
“I just know how hard farmers work in this state, and if you talk to them, they’re not interested in aid, they’re interested in trade,” Warnock said. “They want to see their products make it to India. But right now, this whole thing is being operated willy-nilly, from Donald Trump’s back pocket. One announcement, then a reversal. How do you plan a farm around that?”
Barrow praised Warnock’s approach: “He takes a genuine interest in our problems, and when we sit down at the table, he listens.”
Georgia is the nation’s top pecan producer, and nearly 28% of U.S. pecans are exported, making access to foreign markets critical. In 2022, Warnock helped lower India’s trade barriers on pecans by 70%, opening a major market for Georgia growers.
Senator Raphael Warnock visited Georgia pecan farm
As Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Trade, Warnock has pressed administration officials for relief, voting to roll back tariffs on Canada, urging expedited USDA action on pecan exports, and demanding answers on how tariffs impact small producers.
Rural Hospitals Under Pressure
In Claxton, Warnock visited Evans Memorial Hospital, which faces an annual shortfall of $3.3 million due to cuts embedded in the GOP tax bill. The hospital, already forced to close its labor and delivery unit, now risks cutting intensive care or cardio-pulmonary rehab services.
“This is a matter of life and death,” Warnock said. “We’re cutting services and endangering rural health care, all to give billionaires a tax cut. That’s bad public policy.”
According to the Georgia Hospital Association, more than 16,000 rural health care jobs could be at risk statewide. Medicaid cuts would remove up to 93,000 Georgians from coverage, while raising premiums for 1.2 million.
Warnock previously secured $1 million for Evans Memorial to replace its leaking roof, protecting equipment and patient safety. He continues to push the Health Care Affordability Act to prevent premium hikes for Georgians on the state’s insurance marketplace.
Tariffs Strain Small Businesses
On Tuesday, Warnock traveled to Atlanta’s XocolATLChocolate Factory, where owners Matt Weyandt and Elaine Read described the challenges of importing cacao beans from Central America and Africa, as well as sugar from Brazil. Tariffs on those products have spiked between 10% and 50%, forcing the business to raise prices and stockpile raw materials.
Warnock Visits Candy Factory
“We don’t even know what our cost of goods will be in six months,” Weyandt said. “Setting a price for customers is almost impossible.”
Warnock called the tariff policy “a job killer,” emphasizing that small businesses are the backbone of Georgia’s economy. “Congress could put forward a coherent tariff policy, but so far, my Republican colleagues have ceded all their power to the executive branch,” he said.
During his visit, the Senator joined employees in grinding cocoa beans and mixing sugar, joking, “I can’t even wrap my Christmas gifts. This is a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.”
Broader Message
The Senator tied the week’s visits together with a broader critique: tariffs, tax cuts for the wealthy, and health care reductions are connected by what he sees as misplaced priorities. “When you center politics rather than people, you hurt farmers, you hurt families, and you hurt the very businesses that fuel Georgia’s economy,” Warnock said.
For Georgia’s farmers, small business owners, and rural health workers, the message was clear: the fight over tariffs and tax policy is not just about Washington politics — it’s about survival at home.
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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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