(NewsUSA) - For many people, breast cancer screening becomes a priority around age 40. However, according to recommendations from the American College of Radiology^® (ACR^®), one of the most important conversations about breast health should happen much sooner: a breast cancer risk assessment by age 25.

Breast cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States, and early detection continues to be one of the most effective tools for improving outcomes. Since screening became widespread, breast cancer mortality has declined significantly, helping save countless lives through earlier diagnosis and treatment.

While annual mammography beginning at age 40 is recommended for women at average risk, breast cancer risk is not the same for everyone. Factors such as family history, genetic mutations and other health considerations can increase a person's likelihood of developing breast cancer and may warrant earlier or additional screening.

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. ACR recommends that all women undergo a formal breast cancer risk assessment by age 25, with particular emphasis on Black women and women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, who may face elevated risk factors or worse breast cancer outcomes. Identifying higher-risk individuals early creates an opportunity to develop a more personalized screening strategy before cancer develops.

"Breast cancer screening is not a one-size-fits-all approach," said Stamatia Destounis, MD, FACR, chair of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission. "A risk assessment by age 25 can help identify those who may benefit from earlier screening or supplemental imaging. Understanding your personal risk allows people and their healthcare providers to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances."

Risk assessment is also important for transgender individuals. Breast cancer risk can be influenced by factors including anatomy, hormone use, family history, genetics, and prior medical care. Healthcare providers can use these factors to develop individualized screening recommendations that reflect each person's specific risk profile and health history.

Understanding risk is especially important because some populations are diagnosed with breast cancer at younger ages. Among Asian, Black, and Hispanic women, one-third of all breast cancers are diagnosed under age 50, highlighting the importance of evaluating individual risk rather than relying solely on age-based screening recommendations.

Resources are available to help people take that first step. Mammography Saves Lives, an educational initiative of ACR, provides information about breast cancer risk factors, breast density, screening recommendations, and questions patients can discuss with their healthcare providers. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection. Learning your risk by age 25 can provide valuable information that helps guide future screening decisions and, for some, may lead to earlier detection when treatment is most effective. For more information, visit mammographysaveslives.org.  

(NewsUSA) - Does feeling confident about your finances seem increasingly out of reach? If so, you aren’t alone. In fact, research from Guardian shows that Americans’ financial wellness is at its lowest point in 15 years.

While everyone’s financial picture is different, achieving your goals is often about more than reaching a savings milestone. No matter what you’re working towards, having the right strategies in place and guidance along the way is crucial. Whole life insurance can be one tool that supports those aspirations as part of a holistic financial plan in more ways than you might expect.

Understanding today’s financial challenges

According to Guardian’s research, money and finances are Americans’ top sources of stress. Perhaps contributing to this stress is the fact that fewer than one-third say they’re very good at managing their finances or sticking to a long-term financial plan. 

Financial concerns persist even among those with significant assets, with nearly 40% of high-net-worth individuals saying they avoid dealing with their finances because it feels overwhelming. 

For many Americans, retirement is an area of particular concern, especially as lifespans continue to grow longer. More than four in 10 worry their savings won't last as long as needed, while over half of those age 45 and older regret not starting to save sooner. 

Finding the right tool for your goals

The good news is that whole life insurance can help address these and other common financial concerns by offering a balance of growth now, confidence in retirement, and impact beyond your lifetime. A whole life policy can:

• Provide lifelong protection. Whole life insurance offers a guaranteed death benefit that never expires, is generally paid income tax-free, and can help protect loved ones, cover immediate expenses, and preserve a legacy.
• Create stability amid uncertainty. With set premiums and predictable benefits, whole life insurance can provide a stable foundation as markets, income, and life priorities change.
• Build accessible cash value. A whole life policy builds cash value that grows tax-deferred and can be accessed through policy loans, providing a source of liquidity for needs such as emergencies, family milestones, or home purchases.
• Support retirement planning. Whole life insurance can complement other retirement income vehicles by providing an additional source of funds to help cover health care costs or other major expenses, while also helping to boost confidence in spending retirement savings knowing money is still being preserved for loved ones.

“Whether you're focused on protecting your family, planning for retirement, or preparing for what's next, having a strong financial foundation matters,” said Andy Gordon, Head of Life Insurance at Guardian. “Whole life insurance can help provide stability and confidence as part of a protection-first, holistic plan, supporting your goals today and in the years to come.”

Getting help along the way

When it comes to shaping your financial future, having the right guidance can be just as important as having the right tools. A financial advisor can help you understand how whole life insurance may fit within a broader financial strategy that brings together protection, savings, retirement planning, and legacy goals. Consider reaching out to one today.

Planning with confidence

With a financial plan that reflects your priorities and helps you prepare for whatever lies ahead—alongside guidance from a trusted professional—taking steps towards achieving your financial goals can be easier than you may think.

To learn more about how whole life insurance can play an important role within your broader financial strategy, visit https://www.guardianlife.com/reports/whole-life-for-whole-wealth.

(NewsUSA) - Did you know one of the biggest changes you can make to a room doesn’t require moving a single piece of furniture?

Sometimes it starts right at the window.

Picture the same living room three ways: sunlight softened through airy sheers, rich drapes framing an intimate gathering, or shades lowered for a Saturday movie marathon. Same square footage. Same sofa. Three completely different ways to experience the space.

Behind every change at the window is a reason for wanting a room to feel different. As part of its new campaign, “Reasons,” Blinds To Go is giving homeowners and renters a chance to bring their own refresh to life with a sweepstakes offering a $5,000 window makeover.

And the difference isn’t always something you can see.

Window treatments influence how a room feels and functions. Blinds let you adjust the light throughout the day. Curtains create a sense of retreat. And the right shades can finally make the television watchable at three in the afternoon.

After all, the best spaces aren’t just designed to look good. They’re designed for living.

Take sunlight, for example. The material at your window helps determine how it enters the room. Sheer fabrics diffuse incoming light, creating a softer glow. Blackout materials are designed to block light through the fabric, helping to create a darker setting for bedrooms and movie nights. But fabric is only part of the equation. Fit, coverage and even layering a shade with drapery can give you more control over how you experience natural light throughout the day. Think morning coffee, afternoon catch-up and opening credits.

Privacy doesn’t have to mean giving up daylight, either. Top-down/bottom-up shades can cover the lower portion of a window while letting in light from above—a practical solution for street-facing rooms where you want to enjoy the sunshine without giving the sidewalk a front-row seat to your life.

Then there’s comfort. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat moving through windows accounts for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use. Cellular shades use pockets of air to provide insulation at the window, adding another layer of function to the room. Performance varies by product, window and how the shades are used, but it is a reminder that a beautiful window treatment can have a practical job, too.

The most useful starting point is a simple question: What’s really behind the change you want to make?

That thinking is at the heart of Blinds To Go’s “Reasons” campaign: the reason for changing your window treatments often starts with the way you live. Maybe the guest room is welcoming family more often. Maybe the home office now doubles as the dining room. Or perhaps you’ve lived with the previous owner’s taste long enough.

The brand’s design consultants help translate those everyday needs into choices about materials, light control, privacy and style, with custom window treatments shaped around the space.

Before browsing, spend a day noticing your room. When does the light feel best? When do you squint at a screen or wish for more privacy? Bring those observations to a design conversation, where free samples can help you explore colors, textures and materials in your own space. Knowing your reason can make it easier to find the right solution.

Ready to see what a change at the window can do? Blinds To Go is giving one winner in the U.S. and one winner in Canada a $5,000 window makeover each to help bring their refresh to life.

What’s your reason? Picture the room you would love to come home to, then visit Reasons Sweepstakes to enter by the end of the day on Thursday, November 5. 

Your next chapter at home could start with a change of shade.

No purchase necessary. See Official Rules for eligibility, entry details and prize terms.

(NewsUSA) - Some mornings, it’s a stubborn fine line catching the light. Other days, a sudden dark spot takes center stage no matter what you try. RoC Skincare—the brand backed by dermatologists and over 65 years of research—is taking direct aim at both skin dilemmas with two new high-performance innovations designed for visibly smoother skin and a radically more radiant, even tone.

Smooth Operator: Turning Back the Clock 

Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Triple Serum

Think of this serum as a visible skin reset in a bottle. RoC packs three heavyweight components into one clever, multi-chambered formula, featuring bubbles of micro-encapsulated clinical retinol that burst upon application to kickstart visible skin renewal. This is paired with Hyaluronic B5 Jelly for plumping hydration, a complex of the viral PDRN  to power-pack a youthful-looking, refreshed bounce.

RoC dubs this triple-threat blend “7 years, 7 signs of aging, 1 serum”—and the clinical stats fully back up the claims—no needles or expensive office visit1. In clinical testing, 100% of participants had instantly smoother skin within minutes2. Within just one week, 96% experienced a noticeable reduction across 7 key aging indicators, including fine lines, dullness, and dryness3. By week four, users saw a visible reduction in skin age by up to 7 years, with the look of decreased crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles4.

Spot Eraser: Rewriting the Story on Discoloration

Even Tone Dark Spot Roll-On Serum

If uneven tone is stealing your glow, this laser-inspired spot treatment acts as a high-precision defense against the appearance of sun spots, age spots, brown patches, and post-blemish marks. Formulated to work up to 10 layers deep in the epidermis, the serum brings together a powerhouse lineup: patented Tranexamic Acid5 to visibly fade persistent dark spots, Niacinamide to balance tone, Resveratrol Exosomes to supercharge luminosity, Prebiotics to help guard against future discoloration, and Lactic Acid to gently exfoliate for fresh surface-level visible skin renewal.

Equipped with a flash-cooling, professional-level steel roller ball tip for instant massage and precision application, the melting milky serum gets to work fast—with visible skin renewal and fading beginning within minutes. It targets all four types of discoloration in just one week6, leaving your complexion looking luminous, refined, and beautifully even-toned by week four.

“What I love about these launches is that they take high-level clinical science and make it incredibly easy for everyday use,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Angela J. Lamb. “With the Triple Serum, you’re getting the line-smoothing power of micro-encapsulated retinol paired with deep hydration. Meanwhile, the Even Tone Roll-On targets persistent pigmentation up to 10 layers deep with patented TXA and cooling precision7. They’re practical, targeted solutions that deliver visible, office-level transformations right at home.”

If your daily lineup is due for a high-tech overhaul, consider this your sign. Both high-performance formulas are available for $28.49 at Walmart. Whether you pick a favorite or layer the duo for the ultimate smooth-and-bright power move, visible results are officially within reach.

• 1

  Not comparable to results of procedures.

• 2

  Clinical measurements - 29 subjects - total study duration: 12 weeks; results obtained in minutes.

• 3

  Clinical and corneometric measurements - 29 subjects - total study duration: 12 weeks; results obtained after 1 week - lines, uneven texture, dullness, lack of smoothness, loss of suppleness, lack of softness, dryness. 

• 4

  Based on a clinical study measuring crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles - 29 subjects - total study duration: 12 weeks; results obtained after 1 month. 

• 5

  Ester of Tranexamic Acid used under license

• 6

  Clinical study self-assessment - 40 subjects - 8 weeks - sun spots, age spots, brown patches, post-blemish marks

• 7

  Based on TXA used under license, working within the epidermis layer

(NewsUSA) - Distracted driving continues to threaten U.S. roads, prompting companies that operate and insure commercial vehicles to explore how technologies like telematics can help identify risky behavior and prevent crashes.

New research from SambaSafety examines how organizations use driving data to better understand risk and support safer decisions on the road. The report draws on responses from 740 fleet, broker, and insurance professionals, as well as an analysis of 500 million miles of driving data covering more than 135 million driver behavior events. The findings show that safety risks can vary considerably by the type of work drivers perform, and that understanding those differences can help organizations develop safety programs that address the risks their drivers face.

The report found that 84% of insurers and brokers consider distracted driving a major threat to commercial auto profitability, up nearly 10 percentage points in one year. The increase reflects a growing recognition that distraction behind the wheel threatens public safety and contributes to higher costs when crashes occur.

Telematics can help organizations identify unsafe or risky driving patterns and use those insights to influence driver training and safety programs. With 90% of fleet respondents using telematics, there’s a growing challenge in turning the technology’s data into meaningful action. More than half of fleets (53%) say interpreting and acting on telematics data is a leading challenge.

For example, severe speeding rates differed by more than fivefold across the industries analyzed. Transportation fleets recorded 48 severe speeding events per 100,000 miles, compared with 254 among Construction fleets. These differences show why a safety strategy that works for one group of drivers may not address the risks facing another.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also emerging as a means of interpreting large amounts of driver data. Sixty percent of fleets and 94% of insurers report using AI in some form, including analyzing driver risk data and reviewing footage that once required manual processing.

The research also points to a disconnect over data sharing. While 52% of brokers cite fleet distrust as a barrier, only 5% of fleets agree. This finding suggests that fleets may be more willing to share information when they understand its purpose and value.

“Understanding risk isn’t just about having more data. It’s having the right information to reveal the story behind it,” said Kristy Kennah, Head of Insurance at SambaSafety.

These findings reflect a broader shift in vehicle safety technology. As these tools become more widely used, the focus is shifting toward using this information to identify risks and support safer decisions on the road.

The 2026 Telematics Report is available from SambaSafety.

(NewsUSA) - After a car crash, dealing with injuries, medical appointments and vehicle repairs can be overwhelming enough. Then comes another challenge: dealing with insurance companies.

While consumers may expect an insurer to simply determine what happened and pay a fair claim, the claims process can be much more complicated. Adjusters may request recorded statements, seek broad access to medical records or make settlement offers before the full extent of an injury is known.

Ryan L. Thompson, founder and managing partner of Thompson Law, says injured consumers should understand how the claims process works before making decisions that could affect their recovery. Thompson previously defended corporations before establishing his personal injury practice, giving him experience with how insurers and defense teams evaluate and resolve claims.

Here are five issues consumers should watch for after an accident.

1. The recorded statement

Soon after a crash, an insurance adjuster may ask an injured person to provide a recorded statement about what happened and how they are feeling.

In Texas, a participant in a telephone conversation generally may record that conversation without obtaining the other participant’s permission. Consumers should therefore assume an insurance call may be recorded rather than assume a conversation is off the record.

That distinction matters when injuries are still developing. Someone who says they feel “fine” shortly after an accident may later discover an injury that was not immediately apparent.

There is also an important difference between dealing with your own insurer and the other driver's insurer. A standard Texas personal auto policy contains a duty to cooperate with your own insurance company. Thompson cautions that an injured third party does not have the same contractual obligation to provide a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer.

2. The fast settlement offer

A quick check can seem like welcome news when medical bills and other expenses are mounting. But speed is not necessarily the same thing as a complete and fair evaluation of a claim.

The danger is settling before doctors know the extent of an injury or how long recovery may take. Once a claimant signs a release and resolves the claim, the opportunity to seek additional compensation for that claim generally ends.

Texas insurance law also addresses claim investigation. Thompson notes that Texas Insurance Code Section 541.060 prohibits an insurer from refusing to pay certain claims without conducting a reasonable investigation and requires good-faith settlement efforts in specified circumstances when liability has become reasonably clear. The statute does not specifically prohibit an insurer from making an early offer simply because an injury has not fully resolved.

The practical lesson: understand what is being settled before accepting an offer.

3. Broad access to your medical history

Another document to examine carefully is a medical-record authorization.

An authorization may give an insurer access to medical information extending beyond treatment directly connected to the accident. That can include older conditions or treatments that may become part of the insurer's evaluation of whether an injury resulted from the crash.

Thompson said nothing in Texas law requires an injured third party to provide the other driver's insurer with unlimited access to medical records. Consumers may instead limit an authorization by provider and date or offer to supply relevant records directly.

Read an authorization carefully before signing it and understand exactly what information it permits the recipient to obtain.

4. Computer-assisted claim valuation

Technology can also play a role in determining what a claim is worth.

In 2010, Allstate reached a multistate regulatory settlement involving the insurer's use of the Colossus claims-handling software. The insurer agreed to a $10 million regulatory settlement and reforms governing how the software was used. Among other provisions, the settlement addressed notice to claimants and prohibited requiring adjusters to settle claims solely according to a value recommended by the software.

The historical case should not be interpreted as proof that insurers today systematically underpay claims using software. New York's insurance superintendent said the examination did not find systemic underpayment of bodily-injury claims.

For consumers, the broader point is that a claim may involve standardized valuation tools as well as human judgment. Medical documentation, lost wages and the individual circumstances of an injury can therefore be important in establishing the full picture.

5. Delay and repeated requests

Finally, keep track of what happens after a claim is opened.

Dates, phone calls, documents submitted and the names of adjusters can become important if a claim stalls. Keep a simple log of every call, adjuster's name and date.

Some Texas claims involving a person's own insurer are also subject to statutory deadlines.  The consumer must distinguish those deadlines from third-party claims involving the other driver's insurer, an important difference consumers should understand rather than assuming the same timetable applies to every claim.

Keeping copies of correspondence and maintaining a timeline can help consumers know what information has already been supplied and what remains outstanding.

Know what you're agreeing to

Thompson Law handles vehicle crashes and other serious personal injury and wrongful-death cases. The Dallas-headquartered firm, with additional Texas offices in San Antonio, Houston and Waco, says it has recovered more than $2.1 billion for injured people and families as of August 2026.

For Thompson, the takeaway for injured consumers is simple: don't treat every request from an insurance company as routine paperwork. Understand what information is being requested, what rights may be affected, and what accepting or signing a document means before making a decision.

More information is available from Thompson Law / 1-800-LION-LAW or 1800lionlaw.com.

(NewsUSA) - This World Heart Day, there’s an important number everyone should know: their blood pressure measurement. High blood pressure (or hypertension) is one of the most common health issues in the United States,¹ with approximately 50% of adults - roughly 120 million - living with the condition.^2,3 If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to significantly increased health risks including heart attack and stroke. ^4,5 

However, high blood pressure is often called “the silent killer” with no noticeable symptoms – many people may not realize their blood pressure is too high. For people diagnosed with hypertension, lifestyle changes and medications are the first steps toward gaining better control. But managing the condition can be challenging, and medications aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, up to 50% of patients become non-adherent to their medications within one year, and nearly 75% of adults with high blood pressure do not have it under control.^6,7

The good news is that additional treatment options are available, including the Symplicity™ blood pressure procedure. This minimally invasive procedure works in tandem with lifestyle management and medication which may help patients achieve blood pressure control, and also could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.^8,9,10 The procedure works by calming excessively active nerves near the kidneys that may be contributing to high blood pressure.¹¹ The procedure doesn’t require any implant and once done, the effects keep working 24 hours a day.^{8, 9, 12}While some patients may be able to reduce the number of antihypertensive medications they take, medication may need to be adjusted overtime by a healthcare team. Symplicity may have side effects including headache, back pain, access site complications like bruising or hematoma, and in very rare cases, blood vessel injury or narrowing. 

More than 40,000 adults worldwide have received the Symplicity blood pressure procedure.¹³ In recognition of World Heart Day, we are highlighting the journeys of three individuals who took a new direction in managing their high blood pressure.

Focusing on What Matters Most

Yazmin Rodriguez, a South Jersey mother of five and grandmother of one, always strives to put her family first. But years of uncontrolled high blood pressure made that increasingly difficult, leaving her with frequent migraines and low energy despite taking multiple antihypertensive medications and making lifestyle changes.

This changed in 2024 when Dr. Kintur Sanghvi,* interventional cardiologist at Virtua Health, introduced her to a different approach: the Symplicity blood pressure procedure. After talking to Dr. Sanghvi about the risks of the procedure -  Yazmin decided to undergo the procedure. Today, she has gained more control of her blood pressure and is now able to keep up with what matters most to her: her family. 

“For patients like Yazmin who have tried medications and lifestyle changes but continue to struggle with uncontrolled high blood pressure, renal denervation offers not only an adjunctive treatment option, but a renewed sense of hope for patients,” said Dr. Sanghvi. “While results for patients may vary, seeing Yazmin have better control of her blood pressure and, with it, more control over her life is a powerful reminder of why we offer this procedure to patients.” 

Taking on New Adventures

Patrick Whitehouse, a 59-year-old from Sacramento, California, has always led an active lifestyle. Whether skiing, mountain biking, traveling with friends, or spending time outdoors, staying active has always been an important part of his life. But as his uncontrolled high blood pressure began to interfere with the activities he loved, Patrick searched for another option. The Symplicity blood pressure procedure, alongside lifestyle changes and medication, helped him return to the activities he enjoys most - including riding the iconic Denali Park Road in Alaska. This was a meaningful milestone in Patrick’s return to an active, adventurous life. 

Finding a New Path Forward

Todd "Lumpy" Kocsis, of Gibsonburg, Ohio has lived with uncontrolled high blood pressure since he was just 18 years old. Now 54, and despite decades of treatment, multiple medications, and significant weight loss, his blood pressure continued to worsen, leading to frequent trips to the emergency room. Feeling defeated and out of options, Lumpy learned about the Symplicity blood pressure procedure through his physician, Doctor Gbur at Fulton County Health Center.* Today, he works full-time and stays active caring for his horses, scuba diving, and exercising - activities that were once much more difficult while living with high blood pressure. 

If you’re living with uncontrolled high blood pressure, understanding your treatment options can be an important step toward reclaiming your health.

To learn more about renal denervation and view additional important safety and risk information, visit beyondHBP.com.

*In the past, this physician has been paid for participation in speaking events by Medtronic.

These testimonials reflect the individual experiences and opinions of the patients featured. Not every person will experience the same results.

The Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system is indicated to reduce blood pressure as an adjunctive treatment in patients with hypertension for whom lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive medications do not adequately control blood pressure. People with higher blood pressure before the procedure may see greater reductions in blood pressure and a decrease in the need for blood pressure medication following the procedure.

The Symplicity procedure has known risks that should be considered in relation to the potential benefits of the procedure. Potential procedure-related adverse events including pain, vascular access site complications, and vasospasm are most common.

1. American Heart Association. The Facts About High Blood Pressure. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure. Update May 23, 2024. Accessed on Oct 16, 2024.

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; 2020. 

3. High Blood Pressure Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/data-research/facts-stats/index.html Accessed August 21, 2026.

4. Jones DW, et al. 2025 AHA/ACC/AANP/AAPA/ABC/ACCP/ACPM/AGS/AMA/ASPC/NMA/PCNA/SGIM Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2025 Nov 4;86(18):1567-1678. 

5. High blood pressure dangers: Hypertension’s effects on your body. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/highblood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868. Accessed August 21, 2026.

6. Berra E, et al. Hypertension. 2016 Aug;68(2):297-306.

7. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension Accessed August 21, 2026.

8. Böhm M, Kario K, Kandzari DE, et al. Efficacy of catheter-based renal denervation in the absence of antihypertensive medications (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal): a multicentre, randomised, shamcontrolled trial. Lancet. 2020;395(10234):1444–1451. 

9. Kandzari D, Townsend R, Kario K, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Renal Denervation in Patients Taking Antihypertensive Medications. J Am Coll Cardiol. November 7, 2023;82(19):1809–1823. 

10. Ettehad D, Emdin CA, Kiran A, et al. Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. March 5, 2016;387(10022):957-967.

11. Coates P, Tunev S, Trudel J, Hettrick DA. Time, Temperature, Power, and Impedance Considerations for Radiofrequency Catheter Renal Denervation. Cardiovasc Revasc Med. September 2022;42:171–177.  

12. Medtronic Symplicity Spyral multi-electrode renal denervation catheter Instructions for Use.

13.  Medtronic data on file, RDN Catheter Historical Data, September 2026. Data includes both Symplicity Flex and Symplicity Spyral

US-SE-2600908 v 1.0

©2026 Medtronic. Medtronic, Medtronic logo, and Engineering the extraordinary are trademarks of Medtronic. All other brands are trademarks of a Medtronic company.

Important Safety Information  

The Symplicity^™ blood pressure procedure (BPP) is a minimally invasive procedure approved to help lower high blood pressure. The procedure is approved as a complement to treatments you may already be trying, such as lifestyle modifications and high blood pressure medications that might not be adequately controlling your blood pressure.  

Receiving the Symplicity BPP should be based on a joint decision between you and your doctor. Consider the benefits and risks of the device and procedure. Please talk to your doctor to decide whether or not the Symplicity BPP is right for you. 

If you have a pacemaker or an ICD, your doctor will follow up with steps to take ahead of the procedure if you decide it is right for you. 

At the time of your procedure, your doctor may detect certain anatomical conditions (e.g., your blood vessels are too big or too small) that do not allow the blood pressure procedure to continue. 

You should not receive the procedure if you cannot tolerate medications that are required for the procedure, like atropine, nitroglycerin, systemic blood thinners, or certain pain medications. These medications are to help you in case your heart rate drops too low, you experience pain, or your blood vessels tighten during the procedure. You should not receive the procedure if you are pregnant. 

The Symplicity BPP has not been studied in patients: • Who are breastfeeding • Who are under 18 years old • Who have isolated systolic hypertension (only the “top number” of your blood pressure is high) • Who have secondary causes of high blood pressure   • Who have had a renal stent placed less than 3 months prior to the procedure • Who had a prior minimally invasive treatment in their renal arteries (stenting, angioplasty, or prior renal denervation) 

Potential risks of the Symplicity BPP (note that you may experience other problems that have not been previously observed with this procedure): • Allergic reaction to the imaging solution • Damage to your arteries • Future narrowing of your arteries • Arterio-enteric fistula (an abnormal connection between your aorta and your gastrointestinal tract) • AV fistula (an irregular connection between an artery and a vein) • Bleeding or blood clots • Bruising where the device enters your body (mild or severe) • Cardiac arrest or heart attack • Death • Deep vein thrombosis • Swelling • Slow heart rate • Infection • Low or high blood pressure • Damage to your kidneys that may cause one or both to stop working • Nausea or vomiting • Peripheral ischemia (lack of blood supply to your limbs) • Pulmonary embolism (a sudden block in your arteries that send blood to your lungs) • Pseudoaneurysm (blood collecting on the outside of a vessel wall causing a balloon-like widening) • Pain or discomfort • Skin burns from the failure of the equipment during the procedure • Exposure to radiation • Stroke 

For further information, please call and/or consult Medtronic at 800-633-8766 or the Medtronic website at medtronic.com.

(BookTrib) - “Over the Hills and Far Away” by Daniel Mack

John Merlan is nearing retirement with an irregular heartbeat, a dwindling roster of therapy clients and a growing suspicion that the modern world is far too eager to tell people how to live. Newly settled in Central Florida, he spends his days driving the back roads of the Lake Wales Ridge, talking with clients, researching local history and wondering what free will really means — and what we are supposed to do with it.

His questions become stranger as mysterious encounters blur the line between imagination and reality. Meanwhile, half a world away, a clandestine experiment is pursuing an astonishing possibility: if the human soul is the source of free will, could that freedom be eliminated altogether?

Funny, profane and philosophical, Daniel Mack’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” combines one man’s search for meaning with a much larger mystery about choice, control and what it means to be human.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/over-the-hills-daniel-mack. 

“Dancing Through Seafoam” by Diane Skye Gropper

Poet Diane Skye Gropper explores the fleeting nature of life through a deeply personal and spiritual lens. Drawing on decades of studying Buddhism, Native American teachings and other traditions, she reflects on love, loss, past lives, healing, mortality and the connections that endure beyond a single lifetime.

The collection moves from intimate poems about family, grief and relationships into broader meditations on karma, free will, spiritual growth and humanity’s responsibility to one another and the planet. Some pieces tell vivid stories; others wrestle directly with questions of death, purpose and what we carry from one life into the next.

The title itself captures Gropper’s central image: life as a dance through seafoam, beautiful and fragile, appearing only briefly before disappearing. Yet throughout the collection, the soul’s journey continues, shaped by love, memory and the choices made along the way.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/dancing-through-seafoam. 

“Hunting the Red Fox” by W. Kenneth Tyler Jr.

In 1942, Perry Barnes’ future is shaped by a teenage mistake with an ironic twist. Given the choice between conscription in the Army and a prison sentence for stealing jewelry, Perry opts for the former. He soon finds himself in a newly formed special operations unit, where he learns espionage, sabotage, lock picking, safe cracking — and the very skills that could someday make him a first-class jewel thief.

After the war, Perry’s adventures take him from stunt work in 1950s Hollywood to professional golf alongside legends like Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer. Then he meets precious-gem investigator Sophia Toscana and becomes entangled in the theft of the famed Mecklenburg Diamond from an elusive master thief known as the Red Fox.

Blending historical fiction, spycraft, romance and irreverent humor, “Hunting the Red Fox” has earned a World’s Best Magazine Award for weaving adventure, espionage and redemption into historical fiction; an Independent Press Award for humor; and a NYC Big Book Award in the cross-genre category.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/hunting-the-red-fox. 

“From the Cyclops Cave: A Braided Memoir” by Don Schofield

Poet Don Schofield looks back on a childhood marked by abandonment, instability and a deep hunger to belong. Raised by a succession of adults after his father left him in the care of strangers, Schofield carries those early wounds into adulthood — and eventually to Greece.

From a primitive hut on the island of Kýthnos, known locally as the Cyclops Cave, he begins revisiting the past. The memoir moves between his solitary life in the Cyclades and vivid scenes from 1950s California, allowing memory to surface in fragments: painful, tender and sometimes uncertain.

Written with a poet’s attention to image and place, Schofield’s memoir explores resilience, identity, family and the complicated work of understanding the people who shaped us. Ultimately, it is a moving account of learning to care for the child he once was.

Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/from-the-cyclops-cave. 

(NewsUSA) - Analysis of more than 44 billion emails and 83 million text messages uncovers surprising patterns in when holiday shoppers buy, and what brings them back

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) may be among the biggest shopping days of the holiday season, but new research suggests consumer activity continues well beyond those major promotional events.

During the 2025 peak shopping season, weekend order rates were twice weekday rates, even as brands sent significantly fewer marketing messages. The research also found that customers making their first purchase from a brand during BFCM spent more per order, on average, than repeat customers.

The findings come from Intuit Mailchimp’s Breaking Through Peak Season Noise report, developed with Datalily. The research analyzed more than 44 billion emails and 83 million text messages sent globally through Mailchimp from Halloween through New Year’s Eve 2025, providing insight into consumer behavior during the busiest shopping period of the year.

Here are several key findings from the research.

1. Quieter marketing days can still be strong shopping days

Some of the season’s strongest shopping activity occurred when brands were sending fewer messages.

Weekend order rates were twice weekday rates, while message volume fell by roughly 60% on weekends. On the Sunday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, brands sent 59% fewer emails and 82% fewer text messages than they did on Black Friday.

The findings suggest that holiday shopping activity can continue even when promotional messaging becomes less frequent.

2. Text messages captured shoppers’ attention

Email remained the larger revenue driver overall, but text messaging generated strong engagement during periods of high shopping activity.

During BFCM weekend, SMS averaged a 15.7% click rate per message delivered, compared with 1.4% for email. At peak points during the season, SMS generated up to six times higher order rates than email and three times higher revenue per message.

The results highlight differences in how consumers respond to marketing channels during the holiday shopping season.

3. First-time customers spent more per order

The holiday season also brought new customers to brands. During BFCM weekend, shoppers making their first purchase from a brand accounted for 59% of email-attributed orders and nearly 70% of SMS-attributed orders.

First-time customers also had higher average order values. Through email, average order values for first-time buyers were 21% higher than those of repeat buyers. Through SMS, they were 39% higher.

For businesses, the findings suggest that holiday promotions can provide an opportunity not only to drive purchases but also to reach consumers who are shopping with a brand for the first time.

4. Some shoppers returned after the holidays

For some first-time customers, a holiday purchase was followed by another purchase in the new year.

Among shoppers who made their first purchase during peak season, 16.6% purchased again during the first quarter of 2026. Those who returned made their next purchase after a median of 26 days.

The findings point to the potential importance of the weeks following the holiday season as businesses continue communicating with newly acquired customers.

Looking Beyond the Holiday Rush

Taken together, the research offers a broader look at how consumers shop during the holidays. Shopping activity can remain strong beyond the biggest promotional days, consumers may respond differently across communication channels, and first-time customers can continue engaging with brands after their initial holiday purchase.

For businesses, understanding these patterns can help inform how and when they communicate with customers throughout the holiday season and into the new year.

To explore the full findings and interactive charts, visit Mailchimp’s Breaking Through Peak Season Noise report.

(NewsUSA) - Americans across the political spectrum agree on how the country should approach artificial intelligence, according to a new report by Gallup and the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in artificial intelligence.

In the report, "Looking to the Future: American Priorities for AI in 2026," majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents similarly endorsed survey responses on the need for education and regulation regarding the use of AI. The report was based on a nationally representative survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults conducted online in June 2026 using Gallup’s U.S. panel.

"The key finding in this year's data is that Republicans, Democrats, and independents want the same things: teach STEM, train workers on the job, put safety and security ahead of speed, and let independent experts test these systems before the public depends on them," said Ylli Bajraktari, president of SCSP. "America's edge in this competition will not come from adoption alone; it will come from a public that has reason to trust what it is adopting,” he said.

Americans’ concerns about the impact of AI on the job market persist, with 70% stating that AI will destroy more jobs than it creates over the next decade, respondents consistently supported the need for AI education. 

Notably, 72% respondents support promoting STEM education as a channel to train workers to use AI in their future jobs, and 66% support creating on-the-job training programs that teach AI skills. However, respondents overall were split on adding AI skills to core K-12 classes such as reading or math, with 45% in support and 44% opposed.

In terms of security, 79% of respondents say the government should maintain safety and data-security rules even if such rules slow AI development, compared to 7% who would prioritize speed. Approximately two-thirds (60%) of respondents agreed that the U.S. government should create AI regulations, and 75% favored testing and evaluation of new AI systems by independent experts before such systems are widely disseminated.

On preparing the workforce, 72% of Americans support promoting STEM education to equip workers with the skills to use AI in their future jobs, and 66% support creating on-the-job training programs that teach workers AI skills. Republicans, Democrats, and independents express similar levels of support for both. Opinions remain split on adding AI skills to core K-12 classes like math or reading, with 45% in support and 44% opposed.

Half of the respondents (51%) say they use AI at least sometimes at work, school, or in their personal lives, up from 39% in 2025. Two in three (68%) describe themselves as knowledgeable about AI, up from 60% last year. The new report also shows increased trust among regular AI users since last year, but increased skepticism among non-users. 

"The public is becoming more experienced with AI while simultaneously becoming more cautious about its economic implications," said Gallup Principal, Justin Lall. "That combination of firsthand use and lingering concern makes workforce preparation more important than ever."

The data suggest room for compromise where attitudes towards AI diverge among parties. Republican respondents were more likely to favor mandatory age requirements, increasing AI in manufacturing, increasing energy production for AI systems, and reducing AI regulation. Democrat respondents were more likely to favor increasing government funding for AI research at colleges and universities. However, a majority of respondents across parties showed similar support for allowing companies and universities to use government resources for AI research. 

Visit scsp.ai to view the full report and learn more.