(NewsUSA) - If you own a small business, you're likely focused on growing revenue, serving customers, supporting employees, and staying competitive. But when you think about the business you've worked so hard to build, how do you envision it supporting you and your family’s financial future?

For many owners, success isn't measured solely by the growth of the business. It's also about what that success makes possible, whether that's retiring comfortably, funding a child's education, or leaving something meaningful behind for your family. The challenge for many is that business growth and personal financial planning don't always move in lockstep, even though they are deeply connected.

Taking a holistic look at your financial picture

According to research from Guardian, 86% of small business owners say they are on track to meet their financial goals, and 60% feel very confident about the future of their business. Yet for many, that optimistic outlook coexists with the persistent realities of stress and economic exposure. Retirement planning is their top financial priority, for instance, but concerns about outliving savings remain common. 

"Small business owners invest enormous amounts of time, energy, and personal commitment into building their businesses," said Nancy DeRusso, Head of Client Solutions at Guardian. "For many, their business is also their largest financial asset." Without the right financial strategies in place, she noted, owners may face challenges turning that hard-earned value into long-term financial security. 

Translating financial aspirations into action

Fortunately, there are practical steps small business owners can take to strengthen retirement planning, business continuity, and long-term financial preparedness. Here are five ways to get started.

• Protect what you've built. Review whether life insurance, disability insurance, key person insurance, and other business continuity strategies can help safeguard your family, employees, and business if the unexpected occurs. 
• Align your business and personal goals. A financial performance analysis can evaluate both business and personal finances to help you understand how today's business decisions may affect your family's future plans.
• Examine your retirement strategy. Business value doesn't always translate into retirement income. Take a look at solutions that may help create more predictable cash flow, including annuities. 
• Start succession planning early. Whether you plan to pass your business to family members, sell it, or transition ownership in another way, waiting to plan can limit your options. Start conversations early and align succession plans with your broader financial ambitions.
• Connect with a financial advisor. A trusted professional can help connect your business, retirement, protection, and legacy goals into a more holistic strategy, while helping identify gaps and prioritize next steps.

The bottom line

Building a successful business takes vision, persistence, and hard work. Reaching your long-term financial goals doesn't happen by accident, but with the right support, taking action can be simpler than you might think.

By protecting your business, preparing for future transitions, and working with a financial advisor, you can help ensure that the value you're creating today supports what matters most tomorrow.

To learn more, visit https://www.guardianlife.com/reports/financial-fitness/small-business-brief.

9080429.1 (08/2028)

(NewsUSA) - Many parents think kindergarten readiness starts with learning letters, numbers and how to write a name. Those skills matter, but educators know that the social-emotional and executive function skills children develop before they ever walk into elementary school play an important role in kindergarten readiness.

That's why choosing the right pre-K program matters. In a high-quality pre-K classroom, children don't just learn early academics. They learn how to collaborate with peers, solve problems, manage emotions, adapt to new situations and build independence. These foundational skills help children make the most of every learning opportunity they encounter when they reach elementary school.

"One of the biggest surprises for parents is that being ready for kindergarten isn't just about what children know. It's about how they learn," said Dr. Lisa Grant, vice president of KinderCare Learning Companies' Education Programs. "A child might know their letters and numbers, but they also need to be able to join a group, follow directions, bounce back from challenges, and work through disagreements with classmates. Those everyday skills help children feel confident, participate in the classroom, and get the most out of learning."

At KinderCare Learning Centers, teachers intentionally create opportunities throughout the day for children to practice these skills while also building literacy, math, science and language knowledge. Through guided play, classroom routines, collaborative activities and teacher support, children learn how to navigate the social and academic demands they'll encounter when they transition to kindergarten.

Here are a few key skills children learn in pre-K that help them build the skills they’ll use in kindergarten and beyond. 

1. Sharing: Children need to learn that giving something away doesn’t always mean it’s gone for good. “Young children are still grasping the idea that other people have wants and needs,” said Dr. Grant. “To a four-year-old an object shared is a thing that’s given away, never to return. We have to help them understand the value of sharing, of helping others, so when they get to elementary school they’re prepared for the collective ownership of things like classroom crayons or books from the school library.”
2. Taking turns: Taking turns is a vital classroom and social skill, whether it means raising your hand and waiting your turn to speak when a teacher asks a question you know the answer to or waiting for a turn on the swings at recess. This kind of control is challenging for young children but without it a classroom quickly becomes chaotic and that hinders everyone’s ability to learn. Mastering some basic turn-taking skills in pre-K means children are better able to function within a group, creating a classroom environment in which everyone has the ability to learn.

3. Conflict resolution: At some point, every child will have a moment when they disagree with someone about something. Learning how to move past the initial disagreement and find a solution that meets everyone’s needs is the most basic kind of problem-solving and it’s a skill that any pre-K teacher helps their students with many times a day.

   “Conflict resolution is about more than stopping the argument. It’s about developing self-control, to calm yourself emotionally to the point where you’re able to think creatively to find a solution that works for everyone involved,” said Dr. Grant. “That leads to problem-solving, which is a skill that can be applied to so much more than figuring out who gets to play with a toy.”

4. Independence: Learning to manage personal responsibilities, participate in classroom routines, and make choices independently helps children transition more smoothly to kindergarten. Whether it's putting away materials, following multi-step directions, or moving confidently between activities, these everyday experiences help children build confidence and self-reliance before they enter elementary school.

As families weigh their pre-K options, it's worth looking beyond academics alone. Kindergarten readiness happens when children develop strong social-emotional, executive function, and academic skills together. What may seem like basic manners, like taking turns, sharing, learning to resolve conflict peacefully, are actually the early building blocks for collaboration, self-regulation, flexibility, and problem-solving. These skills don't just help children have a smoother transition to school. They help them become more confident learners, helpful classmates, and stronger problem-solvers throughout their educational journey.

A high-quality pre-K experience can help children transition into school. Families interested in helping their children build both the academic and life skills that support kindergarten readiness can learn more about KinderCare's pre-K programs at KinderCare.com.

(Novartis) - Dr. Koo, EVP and CMO at Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Bill, who is living with prostate cancer, answer some frequently asked questions about PSMA testing. Talk to your doctor and visit GetYourScan.com. Sponsored by Novartis

Hi, I am Dr. Phillip Koo, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at the Prostate Cancer Foundation, here on behalf of Novartis, to talk about PSMA testing and how a scan can help men take charge.

I am also joined by an amazing patient advocate Bill, who is living with prostate cancer. We’re here to answer some frequently asked questions.

DR. KOO, HOW COMMON IS PROSTATE CANCER?

Unfortunately, prostate cancer is very common and affects roughly 1 in 8 men, that’s why early screening and detection is so important. 

DR. KOO, WHAT SHOULD MEN KNOW ABOUT SCREENING?

The screening is performed using a simple blood test called PSA, prostate specific antigen. It's been used for decades to detect disease early, so you maximize your chances for the best outcomes, including cure. So, I recommend speaking to your doctor about getting this test when appropriate. 

DR. KOO, FOR MEN HEARING ABOUT PSMA FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

PSMA is a biomarker that can be imaged using PET to determine if the prostate cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, which is vital to determining your next steps for care. 

DR. KOO, WHY DOES PSMA MATTER IN PROSTATE CANCER?

PSMA is so important with regards to detecting disease and also determining the appropriate treatments that patients should receive down the road. The good news is over 80 to 90% of prostate cancer patients express that biomarker, which allows us to again determine the appropriate therapies at the right time. 

BILL, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU FIRST LEARNED ABOUT PSMA?

I would tell you that I'm always been a person that should take charge, and one of the things I did right after I was diagnosed 18 years ago with prostate cancer was seek knowledge, and as I looked for more and more information, I came across this listing about PSMA, and I took that to my doctor, and we decided that that would be a great course of action in our attack plan to this disease.

BILL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH PSMA TESTING?

Once I found out exactly what it was, I was very, very excited, because it helped me understand truly where I am in this journey and the status of our based on the PSMA results, and knew it was going to give me a leg up on moving forward with treatments.

BILL, WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER RECEIVING YOUR PSMA SCAN RESULTS?

The first thing we did was get together with my oncologist, and we examined, you know, all the results and crafted a plan of action, because taking a look at the choices, I've never been a passive participant in this process, I always take that the active role because information is power, and when you ask the questions and insist upon getting the right answers you want until you do get them is key to your success

DR. KOO, HOW CAN PATIENTS AND DOCTORS WORK TOGETHER WHEN DECIDING IF THE PSMA TEST IS RIGHT FOR THEM?

First off, patients need to speak up, and they also need to be heard, and in order to accomplish this, patients need to go out and learn as much about this as possible, because that'll allow them to feel empowered to have those conversations, because knowing your PSMA status is vitally important to your cancer care. 

DR. KOO, WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PSMA?

Patients can go to GetYourScan.com to learn all you need to know about the PSMA scan. And also how to advocate for this important test for your care.

(Gilead and Kite Oncology) - Vanessa had a plan. As a travel nurse from Memphis, Tennessee, she was working across the country, building her career and saving up to buy a home. She had mapped out her next steps and was looking ahead to a future she worked hard to create. 

Then, everything changed. 

Vanessa was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. The diagnosis forced her to put her life on hold and shift her focus entirely to treatment.

Hearing the words “you have cancer” changed everything for Vanessa, but also her family. 

Even as a nurse, Vanessa found herself navigating unfamiliar territory. 

“I’ve taken care of patients my whole life,” she says. “But I didn’t really know what breast cancer truly entailed.”

Treatment began quickly. In the months that followed, Vanessa bravely navigated the uncertainty and emotional toll of breast cancer. 

Then came the news that every cancer patient dreads: the cancer had spread, and Vanessa was now facing metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. 

“When I found out I had metastatic breast cancer, it was just an awful feeling to know you have to go through treatment again,” she says.

Triple-negative breast cancer tends to grow and spread more quickly than many other breast cancer types. For about half of women with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, their first treatment might be their only opportunity to keep the cancer from growing, making it critical to choose the best option on day one.

Triple-negative breast cancer also occurs more often in younger women, and it appears at higher rates in Black and Hispanic women than other breast cancer subtypes. For these communities, access to the latest education isn’t just helpful—it’s a matter of survival.

Like many people living with metastatic breast cancer, Vanessa wanted to clearly understand her treatment options and what questions she should be asking her doctor. She quickly learned that metastatic triple-negative breast cancer treatment options have historically been limited to chemotherapy-based therapy, which impacts cancer cells more than normal cells, so they then tend to take up more of the chemotherapy. 

Her doctor suggested a clinical trial for a newer class of medicine called antibody-drug conjugates, more commonly known as ADCs. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, ADCs are designed to find specific markers and deliver medicines more directly to cancer cells.

Until recently, ADCs were used later in treatment, after other options had been tried. Now, patients may be able to receive an ADC as their first treatment after a metastatic triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis. 

Innovations, like ADCs, have already made a difference for many people living with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer by helping to keep cancer from growing. For Vanessa, that means being able to better plan ahead, knowing her good days and her bad days —whether that’s the next girls’ trip or time with her family.

However, not all ADCs are the same. Safety and efficacy can vary for each ADC.   

While not every patient will be eligible, understanding when they may be considered and how treatment can impact daily life can help patients feel more informed when discussing treatment options with their care team.

“When selecting treatment, it’s important to consider patients’ goals, wishes and needs so that we can try to realistically plan around those,” says Vanessa’s medical oncologist, Dr. Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical Research at West Cancer Center and Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. “All patients are different and may qualify for different ADCs.”

Dr. Vidal encourages patients to feel empowered to have open conversations with their care team and ask questions, such as what treatment goals make the most sense at their stage of care. 

Every person’s experience is different, but many people living with metastatic breast cancer remain on treatment for life, with the goal of helping manage disease and slow progression while maintaining quality of life.

While the physical and emotional impact of treatment could be difficult at times, Vanessa kept going. She leaned on her close friends and family to help her keep “faith over fear” by focusing on the positives and planning outings around her treatments.

Vanessa encourages others living with metastatic breast cancer to stay positive, ask questions and advocate for themselves during treatment conversations.

“You definitely have a fight in front of you, but you can get through this.” Vanessa says. “You have to do your research and get answers.”

To see how Vanessa and others living with metastatic breast cancer navigate ADC treatment for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, visit Expose-MBC.com/ADC.

GILEAD is a trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc.KITE is a trademark of Kite Pharma, Inc.All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

(NewsUSA) - It's no secret that kids today are struggling with mental health. Heightened academic pressure, the stress of growing up, family dynamics and lack of social connection all play a role, alongside the overuse of phones and devices. 

Young people and parents alike need – and have been asking for – practical, comprehensive solutions designed to help kids thrive in today's fast-paced, increasingly online world. This week's landmark agreement between the states and Meta is incredibly important because it offers new protections for teens and expanded tools for parents. The agreement is meaningful progress for families and should serve as the model for the entire industry.  

The safeguards for young people in the agreement represent important components of a comprehensive approach to youth wellbeing. For example, time limits will help ensure that young people are not overexposed to social media and instead are spending more time on activities like after-school sports, clubs and other extracurriculars. Prohibiting message alerts during school hours and overnight will help kids maintain focus in the classroom and protect their uninterrupted sleep. Teenagers and parents will also have the option to turn off "autoplay" and algorithmic recommendations in teens' feeds, and likes will automatically be hidden, which will help reduce anxiety. Taken together, these changes will make a real difference in broader efforts to protect kids online. 

We all know that social media usage is complex, however. According to the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of teens use YouTube, 68 percent use TikTok, 63 percent use Instagram and 31 percent use Facebook. Twenty-one percent report using TikTok almost constantly; 17 percent say the same about YouTube. And this doesn't even account for other platforms like Discord, Reddit, Roblox and Snapchat. 

While a real and meaningful step forward, the reforms reached between the states and Meta still require others to join; otherwise, kids will simply migrate to the apps with the fewest safeguards. That is why my organization is calling on all other social media platforms where young people spend their time to adopt similar safeguards. 

That fact is, parents are hungry for tools and support that contribute to safe, sensible use of technology. The Coalition to Empower our Future's latest survey found that more than eight-in-10 voters and nearly nine-in-10 parents agree that young people should be taught how to use emerging technologies safely and responsibly. Across the board, there is support for a wide range of solutions to increase digital literacy, including solutions such as online safety lessons for students (84 percent); digital wellness guides for parents (85 percent); and media literacy training programs for teachers (87 percent). 

There is still much more work to be done to meet the youth mental health and wellbeing challenge. That includes investing in mental healthcare, normalizing conversations about mental health, teaching digital literacy in the classroom, increasing opportunities for after-school programs and cultivating third spaces where young people can build connections. But this week's agreement opens the door to expanding the adoption of important safeguards across social media. 

It is essential that we build on this momentum and continue our work toward a comprehensive approach to youth wellbeing. There is no higher priority than protecting kids and helping them thrive in the modern world. 

Glen Weiner is Executive Director of Coalition to Empower our Future, an organization dedicated to convening a comprehensive conversation on the state of youth mental health.

(Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies) - Over the past few months, you may have come across advertisements online or on social media for a new weight loss drug called retatrutide, also commonly referred to as “Reta” or “GLP-3.” Despite savvy marketing and “personal testimonials,” there is something critical consumers need to know: retatrutide is not FDA approved for human-use, and the companies selling it are operating illegally through unregulated channels. 

You Can’t Verify What’s in Illicit Retatrutide – Or Where It Even Came From 

Retatrutide is an investigational product still being studied in controlled clinical trials. It has not been approved by FDA or any regulatory body worldwide, meaning no one can sell it to consumers.

And yet, online sellers, telehealth providers, and compounders are using deceptive advertising to market illegal powders, vials and injectables that put consumers’ health at risk. Some label their products as “research-grade” to suggest legitimacy. Buyers should be aware that this label means it was manufactured strictly for lab experiments—not for human or even animal use. Others deploy scientific and medical language to create the impression that their products are safe and clinically validated. They are not—these products have never gone through clinical trials, let alone been found to be safe and effective. 

Given that sellers are operating illegally, consumers have no reliable way to verify where these products are coming from, how they were manufactured, or whether the dosage and ingredients match the label. Their products may be mislabeled, contaminated, incorrectly dosed or entirely different from what is being advertised. 

This creates serious patient safety concerns. Since the beginning of 2026, poison control center reports involving illegal retatrutide have increased 265 percent compared to the final four months of 2025. Retatrutide products sold online have been found to contain entirely different chemicals. Some patients have been hospitalized after taking black-market retatrutide, including several who were hospitalized after taking a potentially contaminated batch. 

Taking Control: How to Spot and Avoid Illegal Online Sellers 

As online marketplaces and wellness platforms multiply, it’s getting harder for consumers to tell safe and approved products from dangerous imitations. In fact, an ASOP Global Foundation  consumer survey found that 65 percent of Americans falsely believe all online pharmacies or health-service websites are reviewed or approved by FDA or state regulators, while 51 percent incorrectly believe only safe sellers appear on the first page of search results.

Before purchasing any medication online, take these steps to ensure you are protecting yourself from an illicit and unsafe product:

• Verify online pharmacies through trusted resources such as https://safe.pharmacy/ or http://www.legitscript.com/
• Avoid any website offering medicines without a prescription, especially unapproved drugs
• Get prescriptions from licensed healthcare providers

Patients should never have to wonder whether they are getting genuine medicine. Awareness is an important first line of defense, and consumers should also encourage platforms, regulators and policymakers to ensure that illegal sellers can’t hide behind search rankings, social media ads and polished websites.

Learn more at buysaferx.pharmacy.  

(NewsUSA) - As families prepare for a new school year, artificial intelligence will be in more and more classrooms. Much of the conversation has focused on whether schools should embrace it or fear it. Parents are asking a different question: Will it help my child succeed?

As schools increasingly integrate AI into teaching and learning, the focus is shifting from whether the technology belongs in classrooms to how it should be used and who should help shape those decisions.

Just as there´s no one-size-fits-all approach to education, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to using AI in the classroom. For some families, the best fit is their neighborhood public school. For others, it's a public charter school, a magnet school, an online school, a private school, home education, or a microschool. Parents are bringing that same mindset to AI. Rather than asking whether every school should use it the same way, they're asking whether it's helping their child learn. According to a recent survey from the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, most parents are open to AI in schools; 76% support at least some use of it. 

The public conversation often frames AI as a choice between embracing it or rejecting it. Parents see it differently. They're less interested in the debate itself and more interested in whether AI can help their children learn. When asked about AI's greatest promise, 42% of parents chose its ability to personalize learning to each student's needs and pace, twice the share who pointed to preparing students for AI-driven careers (21%).

Parents are using the same lens they apply to most education debates: Will this help my child learn? That's exactly the standard schools should apply. If used thoughtfully, AI can help teachers identify learning gaps earlier, adapt instruction to individual students, provide additional support where it's needed, translate materials for multilingual families, and reduce administrative work so they can spend more time doing what matters most: teaching, mentoring, and building relationships with students.

For schools in America, AI is no longer a hypothetical. As of today,  35 states have released guidance for K-12 schools, addressing everything from classroom instruction and academic integrity to student privacy, teacher training, and family engagement. Schools, too, are moving from asking whether AI belongs in education to determining how it can be implemented responsibly.

Parents deserve a voice in those decisions. The survey also found that 78% of parents say a school's approach to AI matters when considering where they want their child to be educated. Nearly half of parents worry that AI could make students too dependent on technology, while others point to concerns about cheating and weaker critical thinking skills. Those views aren't contradictory. They reflect what parents expect from schools: thoughtful decisions that put students first.

Education leaders are reaching many of the same conclusions. TeachAI, with a coalition of nonprofits and technology companies, released a toolkit for administrators, teachers, and governing bodies to highlight opportunities and mitigate risks when AI is used in K-12 schools. State guidance across the country echoes those priorities, encouraging schools to implement AI thoughtfully while engaging educators, parents, and communities throughout the process.

The urgency is real. Pew Research recently found that more than half of U.S. teenagers have already used AI chatbots to help with schoolwork. AI is already part of many students’ learning experience. The opportunity now is to teach students how to use these tools ethically, responsibly, and in ways that strengthen, not replace, learning. 

At a time when AI is becoming part of more classrooms, parents need clear, trustworthy information to make informed decisions. Resources like myschoolchoice.com/back-to-school offer free guides and practical advice to help families navigate the school year with confidence.

As AI becomes part of more classrooms, schools shouldn't lose sight of the question parents are already asking: Will this help my child learn? If the answer is yes, and parents are part of the conversation, AI has the potential to become another tool that helps teachers personalize learning and helps every student thrive.

Shelby Doyle is the senior vice president of policy and national partnerships at the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that maintains the nation’s largest online portfolio of English- and Spanish-language school navigation resources, available through Navigate School Choice and Conoce tus Opciones Escolares.

(NewsUSA) - Proposed rule changes at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) could weaken the research enterprise that underpins American technology leadership, according to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative that makes recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in emerging technologies.

OMB has proposed the most sweeping revision in years to the regulations governing federal grants and research awards. SCSP has filed formal comments urging the agency to revise the rule before finalizing it.

Accountability for taxpayer dollars is not optional, and SCSP supports OMB's stated goals of transparency, research integrity, and stewardship, said Ylli Bajraktari, president of SCSP, in a recent article. Political accountability and scientific expertise are not enemies. But applied without clear limits, the rule risks damaging the innovation engine that has been the backbone of America's scientific success, he said.

The new regulations contain several concerning provisions, said Bajraktari. Specifically, "Senior political appointees would review every discretionary award, reviewers would be directed to weigh presidential policy priorities, peer review would be explicitly downgraded to 'advisory,' and agencies could terminate active research awards simply because priorities changed after the work began," he said.

The stakes are measurable, according to SCSP's 2026 Tech Competition Scorecard, which found that China holds a decisive overall lead in robotics for advanced manufacturing, and that the narrow U.S. lead in quantum is eroding under Beijing's coordinated, state-backed strategy. Meanwhile, the federally funded share of national research and development dropped by nearly one-third between 2010 and 2019, and federal AI research spending remains far below the $32 billion annual level recommended by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. America already faces a funding gap, Bajraktari said, and should not compound it with a confidence gap.

The proposed changes take their cues from a termination-for-convenience model of government contracting, but research grants are different, Bajraktari emphasized. A research grant supports multiyear experiments, doctoral researchers, and laboratory partners using custom equipment and generating data over time. Stopping that work midstream destroys value that reimbursement cannot recover. The losses also reach companies, investors, national labs, and startups that make decisions based on whether federally funded research is stable and merit-driven.

"When award decisions look political rather than technical, or when a grant can vanish because priorities shifted, private partners hedge, talent looks elsewhere, and the whole geometry of innovation weakens," said Bajraktari.

SCSP's comments ask OMB to consider four points before finalizing any changes to how research grants are handled.

• Keep merit at the center. Scientific and technical merit, evaluated by qualified experts, should remain the primary basis for selecting research proposals. Senior appointees have a legitimate oversight role in compliance, security, and program fit, but should not substitute their judgment for expert evaluation of scientific quality, and any override should be documented in writing against published criteria.

• Make awards durable. Competitively awarded research grants should not be terminable simply because policy priorities changed after the fact. Reserve termination for legal violations, security concerns, or performance failures, and give recipients a chance to respond and to wind down responsibly.

• Account for the private sector. Before changing how research awards work, agencies should ask whether the change will deter co-investment, interrupt commercialization pathways, or push globally mobile talent toward America's competitors.

• Assess the competitive impact. OMB's own analysis counts only paperwork costs and calls them modest. Forgone discoveries and deterred capital are real national security costs even when they never appear as a line item, so major changes to federal research policy should come with a technology-competitiveness impact assessment.

SCSP also urged OMB to slow down. An October 1 effective date would impose new selection and termination frameworks on fiscal year 2027 awards before agencies have built the procedures to implement them well, Bajraktari said.

Visit scsp.ai to learn more.

(NewsUSA) - For individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, fitness can mean much more than getting stronger or improving endurance. The right approach to movement can help people develop confidence, establish healthier routines, build physical skills and work toward greater independence.

Traditional fitness programs, however, aren't always designed around the needs of people who learn, communicate or experience the world differently.

James Anderson, CSCS, founder of Better Everyday Athletics, believes effective inclusive fitness starts with one simple principle: meet people where they are.

Here are five principles behind Anderson's approach to inclusive and adaptive fitness:

1. Meet People Where They Are

Inclusive fitness starts with understanding the individual rather than expecting the individual to adapt to a conventional fitness program.

Anderson's approach begins with an initial consultation to understand a person's abilities, needs and starting point. From there, movements and exercises can be adapted and progressively developed around that individual.

As Anderson explains, fitness shouldn't be about forcing someone into a program that wasn't designed for them. Instead, the goal is to understand what motivates a person, what they're comfortable with and where they're starting, then use movement to help them make meaningful progress.

2. Move With Purpose

Movement can serve a purpose beyond physical exercise.

Anderson's philosophy grew from his experience working in both personal training and behavioral health. One early experience with a behavioral health client helped shape his understanding of how movement could play a larger role in everyday life.

The experience showed Anderson that purposeful movement could become part of a person's broader routine and support progress that extends beyond traditional fitness goals.

3. Build Better Habits

Inclusive fitness isn't about quick fixes or claiming that one program works for everyone.

For Anderson, sustainable progress can take many forms. Sometimes it means getting stronger. Other times, it can mean developing confidence, establishing a healthier routine, learning a new physical skill or becoming more independent in everyday activities.

Even small steps can matter.

And sometimes, the victory is simply discovering, "I can do this."

4. Strengthen the Whole Family

Anderson's philosophy is also rooted in his own experience.

Becoming a father added another dimension to his mission. During the exhausting early months of parenthood, Anderson found that maintaining his own physical fitness helped him better manage the stress and demands of caring for his daughter.

That experience strengthened his belief that healthy habits don't affect only one person. They can influence an entire family.

This idea became part of the foundation for his book, Legacy of Health: A Parent's Guide to Building Strength, Energy, and Longevity for the Next Generation, which encourages parents to think beyond short-term fitness goals and consider the example their own health habits can create for the next generation.

5. Create Lifelong Independence

For Anderson, inclusive fitness ultimately comes back to helping individuals recognize what they are capable of doing and build from there.

Families and organizations have shared examples of progress from Anderson's work. One parent said her daughter developed "confidence and empowerment" while working with Anderson. Another described how her son progressed from being unable to run a quarter mile without stopping to running a half mile nonstop and later regularly riding his bike to the store.

Julie McNeil, Day Program Director at FRIENDS of Broomfield, has also praised Anderson's patience and creativity, as well as his ability to understand individual needs and capabilities before challenging clients to achieve more.

The common thread is simple: progress doesn't have to look the same for everyone.

A More Individualized Approach to Fitness

The Better Every Day Method is built around five principles: meet people where they are, move with purpose, build better habits, strengthen the whole family and create lifelong independence.

Anderson is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), former Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), published author and founder of Better Everyday Athletics. His website states that he has more than 15 years of experience working with families, individuals with disabilities and care organizations.

His message to individuals, families and organizations is straightforward: start with the person, not the program. Understand where they are. Find movement with purpose. Build sustainable habits. Then keep working toward becoming a little better every day.

To learn more about James Anderson and Better Everyday Athletics, visit mybettereveryday.org.

To purchase Legacy of Health: A Parent's Guide to Building Strength, Energy, and Longevity for the Next Generation, visit Amazon.

Organizations interested in bringing James Anderson in for a keynote, workshop or presentation can visit mybettereveryday.org/speaking-engagements.

(NewsUSA) - Competition ran high at this year’s Illinois State Fair, where a new generation of livestock exhibitors gathered to demonstrate the skill and dedication that define Illinois agriculture. 

As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group invests in the next generation of market participants, helping them learn to manage agribusiness risk throughout their careers. CME Group awarded $5,000 scholarships to each Grand Champion livestock exhibitor. Additionally, the company recognized each Illinois 4-H Skillathon champion with a $1,000 scholarship. Over the past decade, CME Group, which offers benchmark agriculture markets across grains, oilseeds and livestock, has contributed more than $500,000 to advance the education of young Illinois farmers and ranchers.

“The rising generation of agricultural producers represents the future of the industry, and it is a privilege to support these students as they build their skills and knowledge,” said John Ricci, Global Head of Agricultural Products at CME Group. “Agriculture is at the heart of what we do at CME Group, and we are committed to investing in those who will feed our communities for years to come.” 

The 2026 Grand Champion scholarship recipients were: Austin Ater (Champaign County), Brenna Dryer (Woodford County), Kashen Ellerbrock (Henry County), McKlay Gensini (County), Ike Heckman (Putnam County), Eva Lansaw (Morgan County), Payton McKittrick (Pike County), Ashley Wiegan (Woodford County) and Wyatt Zehr (Livingston County).

The 2026 Skillathon scholarship winners were: Macie Bartlow (McDonough County), Evan Beal (Clinton County), Will Deters (Cumberland County), Addison Duis (Menard County), Emersyn Harms (Woodford County), Claire Kuipers (McLean County), Caiden Littiken (Clinton County), Calum Shanks (Christian County) and Reagan Shike (Mercer County).