(NewsUSA) - Expanded Coverage for Less-Invasive Tests Can Help

Colorectal cancer is now the top cause of cancer deaths in men and women 50 and younger. Deaths from other common cancers in younger adults are dropping, but this one is rising. High‑profile deaths of actors James Van Der Beek, 48, and Chadwick Boseman, 43, have drawn attention to this deadly trend.

Racial and regional gaps also persist. The American Cancer Society reports that Latinos in the United States die from colorectal cancer at higher rates than those in many Central and South American countries. Black men and women are about 40% more likely to die from the disease than white Americans. Rural residents face greater risk than those in cities. Not getting screened is a key factor.

Healthcare advocates and doctors say virtual colonoscopy, also called CT colonography, can overcome cultural stigmas, fear and other concerns that keep people from being tested. A CT scanner creates 3D moving images of the colon. Doctors use them to spot cancer and precancerous polyps that can be removed before they turn into cancer.

“Colorectal cancer screening is not one size fits all,” said Anjee Davis, CEO of Fight Colorectal Cancer. “Virtual colonoscopy and other less invasive options can help more people take the first step.”

Coverage improvements can help. Medicare began covering virtual colonoscopy in January 2025. The Affordable Care Act requires private insurers to cover the exam. Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna already do.

“Medicare and private insurance coverage helps more people get screened,” said Kevin Chang, MD, chair of the American College of Radiology Colon Cancer Committee and Chief of Abdominal Imaging, Boston University Medical Center. “Doctors can now remove more polyps before they turn into cancer and treat more cancers early.”

About 53,000 Americans still die of colorectal cancer each year. Virtual colonoscopy use is growing fastest among Black Americans and Latinos. Experts believe more covered exams could persuade many of the 30% of eligible adults who avoid screening to finally get tested.

“Affordability and accessibility are vital to increasing screening rates,” said Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “Improving access and choice for more people can save lives.”

Preparation is similar to traditional colonoscopy, but virtual colonoscopy is less invasive, requires no sedation and takes only minutes. Many can drive themselves to and from the exam and then resume normal activities. President Obama chose a virtual colonoscopy when in office.

“Conveniences matter -- many cannot afford to take a day off work, nor have reliable transportation or childcare,” said Cecelia Brewington, MD, Chair of Medical Imaging at Ochsner Health System, New Orleans. “Being able to go back to work after may determine if a person gets screened – which can save their life.”

The American Cancer Society recommends virtual colonoscopy for those at average risk, with no family history or major gastrointestinal conditions.

Adults 45 and older should talk with their doctor about which exam is right for them.

Find more information at RadiologyInfo.org/virtualct.

(NewsUSA) - As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into search engines, many local businesses are discovering a troubling reality: they are no longer appearing in search results the way they once did.

The rise of AI-generated overviews, conversational search tools, and direct-answer summaries has fundamentally changed how consumers find local services. Instead of browsing multiple websites, users are increasingly shown AI-curated responses that pull information from structured, trusted digital sources. Businesses that are not properly optimized for this new environment may find themselves effectively invisible.

Industry data shows that a growing percentage of searches now end without a click. That means if a company’s website is not structured in a way that artificial intelligence systems can easily interpret — through clear site architecture, structured data, entity signals, and well-formatted content — it may never be included in AI-generated answers.

“Search has shifted from simply ranking webpages to understanding entities and trust signals,” says leadership at iLocal, a digital marketing agency focused on local visibility. “If a business’s digital foundation isn’t technically sound, AI systems may bypass it entirely.”

Common issues preventing businesses from appearing in AI-driven results include:

• Lack of schema markup and structured data

• Poorly organized website architecture

• Missing or inconsistent business entity information

• Thin or duplicate content

• Broken contact forms or technical site errors

While traditional search engine optimization still matters, experts note that AI-first optimization requires a more comprehensive approach. Clear categories, frequently asked questions formatted for extraction, authoritative citations, and strong local relevance signals all contribute to whether a business is surfaced in AI responses.

For small and mid-sized companies competing in crowded markets, adapting to this new search landscape is critical. Visibility is no longer determined solely by keyword placement but by how clearly and credibly a business communicates its expertise to both users and machines.

As AI continues to shape consumer search behavior in 2026 and beyond, businesses that invest in structured, technically sound digital foundations are more likely to remain visible — while those that rely on outdated tactics risk disappearing from the conversation entirely.

To learn more about iLocal’s approach to AI-first local visibility, visit https://ilocal.net/

(David Bobb and Louise Dubé) - The kindergartners in classrooms this year are beginning a once-in-a-generation civic journey. They started school on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. They will reach high school graduation age in 2038, as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Constitution’s ratification.

As we celebrate Civic Learning Week, March 9-13, we should think about what this means. If we are serious about sustaining the next 250 years of self-government, nothing is more important than ensuring that every student graduates with a deep understanding of our history, our principles, and their own responsibility as citizens. This critical work falls largely on civics and history teachers—often overlooked, too rarely celebrated, and yet indispensable to the survival of our democracy.

They are the quiet heroes of America’s 250th.

The founders were clear: liberty and learning, the theme of Civic Learning Week this year, go hand in hand. George Washington called for educating youth in the “science of Government” so they might become “guardians of the liberties of the Country.”

And yet civic knowledge is slipping. Recent national assessments show troubling declines in students’ understanding of U.S. history. Only a handful of states require a full year of high school civics. In many schools, civic learning is squeezed by competing priorities.

This erosion is not due to public indifference. Quite the opposite. Seventy percent of American adults support more civic education. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration is a chance to renew our commitment to teaching the principles that define American democracy: natural rights, equality, constitutional order, and the responsibilities that come with freedom. These ideas cannot remain abstract. They must live in classrooms and communities.

Many activities are underway to help teach these principles to young people in and out of the classroom. The Civic Star Challenge, an initiative that provides teachers with incentives and tools to bring the Declaration of Independence to life in the classroom, was launched at back to school time last year. It invites educators nationwide to celebrate the 250th not just with pride, but with creativity and purpose.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, we have a rare opportunity to rekindle civic knowledge in every classroom. Let’s seize it—and ensure that this generation graduates not only knowing our history, but prepared to shape our future.

Louise Dubé is the CEO of iCivics.org, and David Bobb is the President and CEO of the Bill of Rights Institute.

(NewsUSA) - As search engines evolve into AI-driven answer platforms, many local businesses are discovering they are no longer showing up where it matters most.

Google’s AI-generated overviews and conversational search results are changing how consumers find services. Instead of clicking through multiple websites, users are increasingly receiving summarized answers pulled from structured, optimized sources. Businesses that haven’t adapted to this shift risk becoming invisible.

“Traditional SEO isn’t enough anymore,” says leadership at iLocal, a digital marketing agency specializing in local search visibility. “If your website isn’t structured in a way that AI systems can interpret, categorize, and trust, you simply won’t appear in AI-generated responses.”

According to industry research, over 60% of search queries now result in zero clicks — meaning users get their answers directly from search engines. That makes structured data, schema markup, FAQ optimization, and technical site health more critical than ever.

iLocal recently expanded its proprietary “10-Gear SEO Framework” to address this shift. The framework now emphasizes:

• Schema and structured data implementation

• FAQ optimization designed for AI extraction

• Technical form functionality and conversion tracking

• Clear category silos and URL hierarchy

• Local authority signals and business entity alignment

The agency reports that businesses investing in AI-friendly site architecture are seeing stronger visibility not only in traditional rankings but also within AI-generated summaries.

For small and mid-sized companies competing against national brands, adapting to AI search is no longer optional — it’s essential.

“Businesses don’t need bigger budgets,” iLocal notes. “They need smarter structure.”

As AI continues reshaping search behavior in 2026 and beyond, experts agree that technical precision, content clarity, and structured optimization will determine who gets found — and who gets left behind.

To learn more about iLocal’s services, visit https://ilocal.net/

(NewsUSA) - Let’s be honest: between late-night scrolling and 8 a.m. calendar alerts, our under-eyes barely stand a chance. While we’d all love a dermatologist on speed dial for the occasional “tweakment” the latest viral beauty sensation offers a far easier (and needle-free) alternative to achieve the coveted, 8 hours of sleep glow. Enter: RoC’s Revive + Glow Eye Balm.

Affectionately praised by beauty insiders and TikTok devotees like Lisa Jauregui and Kelly Rose Sarno, this cooling balm has earned a permanent spot in our makeup bags, and for good reason.

The Ultimate Multi-Hyphenate

Consider this your eye cream’s glow-up. Easier than a treatment and more strategic than a standard primer, this is a true skincare–makeup hybrid that doesn’t just promise results, but visibly delivers them.

• The Perfect Prep: Swipe it on before concealer to create a silky, hydrated canvas. By locking in essential moisture and smoothing the look of fine lines, so that makeup can glide on effortlessly without looking dry or cakey
• The Mid-Day Save: When the afternoon slump hits (and your under-eyes start to show it), this stick is the ultimate reset button. The brilliant touchless application means no messy fingers, just a quick, hygienic glide right from the tube, perfect for on-the-go touch-ups. It layers effortlessly over makeup, refreshing your under-eyes without disturbing your base. No smudging, no patchiness, no messiness, just instant revival.
• The Cooling Sensation: On contact, the stick delivers a soothing, cooling touch that feels equal parts indulgent and energizing, like a shot of iced espresso for your complexion.

The Science of the Glow

RoC didn't just make it pretty; they made it powerful. The formula features a blend of Vitamin C and antioxidants to visibly brighten dark circles, while a peptide works to firm and smooth the delicate under-eye area.

The results are compelling: in clinical studies, 96% of users reported healthier-looking eyes in just 1 week, and 4 out of 5 users experienced reduced dark circles and puffiness after 4 weeks. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, making it a win for even sensitive skin types.

“RoC’s Revive + Glow Eye Balm is a smart option for patients looking to brighten and smooth the under-eye area,” says Dermatologist Dr. Trisha Khanna. “The formula combines gentle illumination with hydrating ingredients to soften the appearance of fine lines and reduce dullness. It’s the kind of product I recommend for daily use because it delivers visible radiance while still supporting the skin barrier.”

The Verdict

If you’re after that elusive under-eye radiance, without the filler price tag, this eye balm under $30 might just be your new holy grail. It’s no wonder 1 stick is sold every 42 seconds* – chic, portable, and impressively effective, it’s the kind of beauty staple that makes you look like you have your life (and your sleep schedule) together.

Ready to glow? Shop the RoC Eye Balm and full Revive + Glow collection at Target.com.

*Based on Internal US $ sales, L52WKs, ending 1/10/26

(Arthur Silver, Contributing Writer) - As young renters face record costs in America's largest cities, a maturing co-living sector is showing it can deliver affordability and strong investor returns at the same time. The emergence of Outpost Group as the country's largest co-living operator may be the proof of concept the industry has been waiting for.

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When Sergii Starostin arrived in the United States, he did not experience the American dream so much as the American housing nightmare. Finding an affordable apartment in New York City as a newcomer - without credit history, without a local network, without savings padded by years of employment - was, as he later described it, an exercise in humiliation. Brokers ignored him. Landlords turned him down. The options that remained were either unaffordably expensive or depressingly grim.

That experience became the founding premise of Outpost, which Starostin co-launched in 2016 with a straightforward mission: create furnished, shared living spaces that were not only financially accessible, but genuinely desirable; places where young people could land in a new city, build a life, and feel part of a community while doing it.

Nearly a decade later, Outpost has become the largest co-living operator in the United States. In November 2025, the company announced a merger with June Homes, a proptech-driven rental platform with roughly 2,600 units across seven major cities. Combined under the holding company Outpost Group, the new entity manages approximately 4,000 units across New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin  - generating an estimated $65 million in annual revenue. Crucially, it is profitable, a distinction that separates it from nearly every major competitor that has tried and failed to crack this market at scale.

The Affordability Case: More Than a Marketing Claim

The term "affordable housing" carries considerable political and regulatory baggage in real estate circles. But the affordability that co-living operators like Outpost offer is not a product of government subsidy, tax incentives, or income restrictions. It is a function of architecture, amenity-sharing, and operational efficiency… and the numbers are striking.

Outpost estimates that its furnished rooms and co-living arrangements are typically 30 to 40 percent cheaper than comparable studios or one-bedrooms in the same markets. In New York City, where the median asking rent for a studio has exceeded $3,000 a month in recent years, a furnished private room in a co-living property with shared common areas, utilities included, can be secured for $1,500 to $2,200 a month -  a difference that, for a 24-year-old arriving from Cincinnati or Columbus with a new job offer and $8,000 in savings, is not marginal but existential.

"Young people still want to move to big cities. They still want opportunity. What they need is a way to afford it, and that's the problem we're here to solve. Thankfully, now at a national scale." — Sergii Starostin, CEO, Outpost

The demand data supports this. Surveys conducted by Outpost indicate that more than 70 percent of young newcomers find it "hard" to secure housing within their budgets, and more than half say they would prefer a private apartment if it were not cost-prohibitive. That second statistic is telling: co-living is not the first choice of most renters aged 18 to 34. It is the rational choice in the face of a market that has priced them out of the alternatives.

The structural forces driving that dynamic show no signs of reversing. High interest rates have suppressed new construction. Zoning restrictions in many cities continue to limit multifamily density. Homeownership has been pushed further out of reach for millennials and Generation Z, extending the renter lifecycle well into what previous generations considered prime home-buying years. The result is a swelling population of young professionals who are committed, long-term urban renters and who represent a stable, growing customer base for the co-living sector.

The Investor Equation: Why Building Owners Are Paying Attention

If affordability were the only story, co-living would be an interesting social enterprise. What makes it compelling as a real estate model is the simultaneous value proposition it delivers to building owners; a proposition that, in many markets, substantially outperforms traditional apartment leasing.

The math begins with density. A traditional three-bedroom apartment in a major city might rent for $4,500 a month as a single unit. Configured as a co-living property with three private bedrooms, shared kitchen and living space, and included utilities and furnishings, the same floor plan can generate $2,000 to $2,200 per room or $6,000 to $6,600 a month total. The tenant pays less per person. The building owner collects more per square foot. Both sides benefit.

Industry data reinforces this. Research from Primior Group found that co-living properties generate 30 to 50 percent more income than traditional apartment configurations on a per-unit basis. A case study of the ALTA development in Long Island City, New York found that co-living units produced 44 percent higher income per square foot than conventional apartments in the same building, with 30 percent higher net operating income per square foot - even after accounting for the cost of housekeeping and additional services.

Outpost's model for building owners goes beyond yield. The company offers landlords two distinct structures: a standard property management arrangement and a master-lease co-living model, in which Outpost leases the building and assumes operational responsibility, including vacancy risk. For building owners who want predictable income without day-to-day management exposure, the master-lease structure functions as a performance guarantee backed by an operator with a national portfolio and the financial discipline to honor it.

That reliability has become a significant differentiator. The co-living space has been littered with well-funded casualties, namely operators that grew quickly on venture capital, burned through reserves, and left landlords stranded with broken leases and empty buildings. Outpost has, in several instances, been the entity that stepped in to restore order. Since 2019, the company has absorbed the portfolios of failed operators including Bedly, interns.nyc, and, most recently, Common, in each case stabilizing properties and restoring landlord confidence. It is a track record that speaks directly to the counterparty risk concerns that have historically made some building owners hesitant to enter co-living arrangements.

"We built Outpost to be the reliable operator in a very unpredictable industry. Where others chased growth at any cost, we focused on choosing great projects, controlling expenses and treating every building owner like a long-term partner." — Sergii Starostin

The June Homes Merger: Building for the Long Term

The merger with June Homes adds both scale and complementary capabilities to Outpost's platform. June Homes, backed by SoftBank Ventures Asia, built its reputation not on the co-living experience per se but on the rental process itself,  creating a system that allowed renters to discover, apply for, and move into an apartment in as little as three hours, with no broker fees and transparent pricing. For renters arriving in a new city, it addressed a different but equally painful friction point: the sheer difficulty of navigating an opaque, time-consuming, and often exploitative rental process.

"We created June Homes to bring more transparency into the rental market and make the process easier for both renters and landlords," said Dan Mishin, June Homes' founder. "Now, we're excited to join forces with Outpost to continue that effort by creating a market leader in the flexible living category positioned for further expansion and acquisitions.”

Mauricio Zuniga, June Homes' CEO, will serve as President of the combined company, and June Homes' full operations team will remain in place. The newly merged organization employs approximately 200 people across its seven-city footprint and will extend June Homes' events and community programming across the entire Outpost portfolio.

For Starostin, the merger is a milestone in a longer-term ambition. He speaks openly about building a "Marriott for co-living;”  a nationally recognized brand that makes medium- and long-term furnished rentals as simple and reliable as booking a hotel room, with consistent quality standards, a trusted experience, and the infrastructure to expand internationally. His five-year target: more than $500 million in revenue and a continued consolidation of a sector that still has significant fragmentation.

A Sector Coming of Age

The broader co-living market has matured considerably from its early days, when the concept was often dismissed as glorified dormitory living for adults who hadn't yet earned their independence. Today, the global co-living market is valued at roughly $16 billion and is projected to reach $30 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate exceeding 11 percent. In the United States, the sector has been shaped by a period of painful consolidation. The failure of high-profile operators has weeded out the undisciplined and elevated the companies with genuine operational depth.

That winnowing is, in many respects, good news for real estate investors evaluating co-living as an asset class. The companies that survived the shakeout, Outpost chief among them, did so by building real businesses rather than growth narratives. They have occupancy data, operating cost structures, and landlord relationships that can be underwritten. They have demonstrated the ability to manage through economic cycles. And they are operating in a demand environment that is, by almost every structural indicator, exceptionally favorable.

The United States faces an estimated housing shortfall of more than four million units. New household formation continues to outpace new construction. The cohort of renters aged 22 to 35 is the largest in American history, and a substantial portion of them are moving to cities where a traditional apartment is simply not an accessible entry point.

The Bottom Line

The most interesting thing about flexible shared living in 2026 is not that it has survived -  it is that the dual value proposition at its core has proven durable. Young renters gain a foothold in expensive cities at costs that would otherwise be prohibitive. Building owners unlock superior revenue per square foot with a reliable operational partner assuming the complexity. And the best operators, having endured a brutal period of industry consolidation, have emerged leaner, more credible, and better positioned than ever.

For real estate investors, developers, and building owners still on the fence about co-living, the Outpost-June Homes merger provides a useful reference point. This is what the sector looks like when the model works: profitable at scale, disciplined in operations, and solving a problem.  The inability of an entire generation to afford to live in the cities that drive the American economy shows no sign of going away.

For more information, visit www.outpost.me.

(NewsUSA) - As search evolves beyond blue links into AI-driven answers and zero-click results, a new competitive frontier has emerged for business owners: structured data.

According to digital marketing firm iLocal, Inc., companies that once competed on keyword rankings alone are now facing a different challenge—ensuring search engines can fully interpret, categorize, and trust their content. The shift is subtle but significant: search visibility is increasingly determined not just by what a page says, but by how clearly it communicates meaning to machines.

Structured data—standardized code added to websites to help search engines understand content—has existed for years. However, its role has expanded dramatically with the rise of AI-powered search experiences, voice search, and enhanced search results like featured snippets, local packs, product carousels, and knowledge panels.

“Search engines are no longer just crawling pages; they’re interpreting entities, relationships, and intent,” said a spokesperson at iLocal. “If your website doesn’t clearly define who you are, what you offer, and how it connects to user queries, you’re competing at a disadvantage.”

The Visibility Problem Businesses Didn’t See Coming

Many small and mid-sized businesses report steady traffic declines despite maintaining consistent content output. In many cases, the issue is not poor content quality but structural ambiguity. Search engines struggle to confidently extract business information, services, reviews, events, FAQs, and product details without proper schema markup.

This becomes especially critical in local search. For service-based businesses, missing or improperly implemented local business schema can mean losing eligibility for rich results—even when the company is highly relevant.

The result? Fewer clicks, reduced brand authority, and diminished presence in AI-generated summaries.

From Optimization to Interpretation

Traditional SEO focused on keywords, backlinks, and on-page optimization. While those fundamentals still matter, structured data is transforming optimization into interpretation.

Schema markup clarifies:

• Business type and service areas
   
• Products, pricing, and availability
   
• Reviews and ratings
   
• FAQs and educational resources
   
• Events, promotions, and announcements
   

When properly implemented, structured data increases eligibility for enhanced search features and improves content discoverability across evolving search interfaces.

Why the Timing Matters

The urgency is tied to broader changes in how search engines deliver information. AI-powered overviews and answer engines rely heavily on structured signals to validate and contextualize information. Websites lacking these signals risk becoming invisible within automated summaries—even if their content is accurate and authoritative.

iLocal reports that businesses incorporating comprehensive schema frameworks alongside technical SEO improvements are seeing stronger impression growth and improved engagement metrics compared to competitors relying on traditional optimization tactics alone.

A Strategic Advantage, Not a Technical Add-On

Experts caution that structured data should not be treated as a one-time technical task. Instead, it requires strategic alignment with content, brand positioning, and user intent. Inconsistent implementation or generic templates often fail to deliver measurable impact.

For business owners, the takeaway is clear: SEO is entering a more semantic, entity-driven era. The battleground is shifting from simply ranking pages to defining digital identity in machine-readable language.

As search platforms continue to evolve, structured data is no longer optional infrastructure—it is emerging as a decisive competitive edge.

To learn more about iLocal and its local visibility solutions, visit https://ilocal.net/

(NewsUSA) - For more than a decade, digital success was often distilled into a single metric: ranking #1 on Google.

In 2026, that metric alone is no longer enough.

A new industry analysis released by iLocal, Inc. suggests that businesses focusing exclusively on top-position rankings are overlooking a broader transformation in how search visibility actually works. The report outlines a growing disconnect between rankings and results—where high placement does not always translate into traffic, leads, or authority.

“Ranking #1 used to be the finish line,” said a spokesperson for iLocal. “Today, it’s just one variable in a much more complex visibility equation.”

The Fragmentation of Search Results

Search engine results pages have evolved dramatically. Between AI-generated overviews, featured snippets, local service panels, map packs, video carousels, and “People Also Ask” sections, traditional organic listings are increasingly pushed below multiple layers of information.

In many cases, users receive immediate answers without ever clicking through to a website. This rise in zero-click search behavior has created a new challenge: a business can technically rank first in traditional organic listings while still being visually overshadowed by other search features.

For local and service-based companies, the impact is particularly significant. If competitors dominate AI summaries or enhanced results, they may capture attention and credibility—even without holding the top organic position.

From Position to Presence

The shift signals a move from position-based competition to presence-based competition.

Visibility in 2026 is shaped by several interdependent factors:

• Inclusion within AI-generated summaries
   
• Structured data clarity and entity recognition
   
• Local optimization and map pack prominence
   
• Review authority and trust indicators
   
• Multimedia integration (video, images, FAQs)
   
• Brand consistency across digital platforms
   

“Search engines are no longer just ranking pages,” the iLocal spokesperson explained. “They’re assembling answers. And the businesses that are clearly defined, authoritative, and technically structured are more likely to be included in those answers.”

The Misleading Comfort of Rankings

Many business owners monitor ranking reports as their primary performance indicator. However, iLocal’s research suggests that rankings alone can create a false sense of stability. Companies may maintain strong keyword positions while experiencing fluctuating traffic or declining engagement.

This occurs because modern search systems interpret user intent more dynamically. They synthesize information, prioritize context, and increasingly rely on machine-readable signals such as structured data and consistent entity references.

In other words, being relevant is no longer enough. Being interpretable is essential.

A Strategic Recalibration

The death of “just ranking #1” does not mean SEO is obsolete. Rather, it signals a maturation of the discipline.

Businesses that adapt are shifting toward holistic visibility strategies—combining technical SEO, content depth, structured data implementation, and brand authority development. They are optimizing for inclusion, credibility, and user trust rather than simply chasing positions.

As search continues to integrate AI-driven interpretation and dynamic result layouts, the competitive landscape will favor organizations that understand visibility as a multidimensional strategy.

In 2026, the most successful companies will not ask, “Are we ranking first?”

They will ask, “Are we present wherever decisions are being made?”

To learn more about iLocal and its local visibility solutions, visit https://ilocal.net/

(NewsUSA) - Premature babies face unique challenges from the moment they arrive. Born weeks or months before their bodies are fully developed, these fragile infants need every advantage to grow strong and healthy. The good news? Research shows that the right nutrition can help improve both their immediate health and their development years down the road.

Helping Preemies Grow Strong

Extremely premature babies need significantly more calories, protein, and nutrients than full-term babies to catch up on the growth they missed in the womb. This is why doctors often add something called a nutritional "fortifier" to mom's breastmilk or donor milk for the smallest preemies. These fortifiers provide the extra nutrition necessary for healthy growth and development.

There are two types of fortifiers available in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU): one made from cow milk, and one made from donor breastmilk. In the U.S., both are labeled "human milk fortifiers," which can be confusing for parents. However, only those from Prolacta Bioscience are 100% donor breastmilk-based, free from cow milk and corn syrup ingredients. For extremely premature infants — those born weighing 2.75 pounds or less — this difference can be life-changing.

Nutrition Choices That Last a Lifetime

What preemies are fed in the NICU doesn't just matter today; it impacts tomorrow's developmental milestones. A recent study followed more than 1,000 premature babies from birth through age 3 to see how their early nutrition affected their development. The results were striking: babies fed an Exclusive Human Milk Diet (EHMD) including breastmilk and Prolacta’s human milk-based fortifiers were significantly less likely to have motor skill delays at age 3 compared to those fed a non-EHMD. These motor skills help toddlers walk, run, climb, and explore their world, along with other children their same age.

The positive health outcomes go beyond motor skills. Earlier research showed that an exclusive human milk diet also leads to significantly higher cognitive scores (thinking, learning, attention) at 18-22 months. Together, these studies reveal that the feeding choices parents and care teams make in the NICU can shape a child's development for years to come.

Not All Human Milk Processing Methods Are Equal

Breastmilk contains hundreds of bioactive compounds that work together to protect and nourish premature babies in ways that other feeding options cannot. Prolacta's unique human milk processing methods are specifically designed to help maintain the natural benefits in mom’s milk, including important fats that support brain development. Other human milk processing methods, such as homogenization, alter the human milk fat globule and are known to destroy milk fat components that premature infants may need for brain development.

Timing matters, too. In the critical early weeks, a premature baby's brain and organs are developing rapidly. Early fortification with the right nutrition supports this critical growth when babies need it most.

Advocating for Your Baby

In 2025, more than half of the Level 3 and 4 NICUs in the U.S. used 100% breastmilk-based fortifiers for their smallest patients. If your baby is in a NICU, you have a voice in their care. Talk to your care team about the best nutritional options for your child. You can ask for Prolacta nutritional products by name, and your hospital can order them without a contract, often for overnight delivery, even for one baby.

Knowing your options helps ensure your baby gets the nutrition they need for better health today and long after the NICU. Don't be afraid to ask questions and advocate for the nutrition that gives your baby the best chance to thrive.

(K12) - A few years ago, as children quickly shifted to online classrooms, parents shared one common question: How does virtual school work? At the time, many families saw it as a temporary fix in response to a global crisis.  

Except it didn’t fade away. If anything, attention on online schooling deepened curiosity. Questions moved from logistical to philosophical: Could online school be a better fit for my child? Would they be happier in a more flexible setting?  

More parents are rethinking how and where their children learn. Here are some of the top questions they ask—and a few answers that may surprise you. 

Where can I find online school options? 

An online search will show options in your state: tuition-free public and charter schools, private schools, and state-run programs serving a range of grades from kindergarten through high school. Use an online school search engine to compare options and read reviews. You’ll also want to ensure the school is accredited by a recognized body, such as Cognia.    

Is online school a good option for students struggling in traditional school? 

Absolutely. In many programs, including K12-powered online schools, classes are taught by state-certified teachers who meet one-to-one with students. Flexibility allows learners to work at their own pace, spending extra time on challenging concepts before moving on.  

Do online schools offer special education? 

Yes. Online students in special education receive required services and accommodations, often with more individualized support and one-to-one time with special education teachers.  

Are online schooling and homeschooling the same? 

They are quite different. Online schools provide structure, certified teachers, live classes, and a standard curriculum—without requiring parents to serve as instructors. 

How do online students make friends and socialize? 

Many online schools prioritize socialization and create meaningful opportunities for connection and friendship. Virtual campuses like the K12 Zone at K12-powered schools, national competitions, clubs, local meetups, and virtual field trips help students make friends and experience school spirit. 

How do online schools prepare students for college and careers?  

From career pathways, dual enrollment, and internships to honors and AP courses, game-based learning, and group projects, online students can experience a high-quality education that prepares them for the future. 

Online school has permanently expanded the education landscape. Because of these options, high-quality education, career preparation, and enrichment are more equitable and accessible than ever, giving families a real choice for their children—regardless of location or circumstance.