Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2026-08-17T09:01:00

(BPT) – Key takeaways

• Widespread use of AI search engines has dramatically altered how consumers discover brands.
• Regardless of whether it’s sponsored or earned, AI systems evaluate a brand’s content by its credibility, authority, consistency and frequency.
• PR and MarCom professionals who want better brand visibility need to follow this change in brand discovery via earned and editorial content in credible publications.
• Brandpoint Optimize helps brands increase their AI visibility through quality content, trusted syndication and credible third-party validation.

By Stacy Stusynski, Chief Commercial Officer, Brandpoint

Today, AI speaks for your brand every day by evaluating and summarizing (or ignoring) your existing content on behalf of consumers. The AI search takeover has fundamentally changed the visibility of your brand, whether you’ve invested in this process or not.

Historically, the PR industry defined earned media this way: A journalist chose to cover a story someone pitched with no payment and no guarantee, just the credibility of a third party deciding your story was worth telling.

While that definition remains, it’s just part of the picture. In 2026, earned media means any third-party content that signals credibility and authority to audiences, and to algorithms that decide what content is trusted, cited and recommended.

How AI search has impacted PR and MarCom strategy

Throughout my career, technology has changed how consumers discover and evaluate products. When consumers’ discovery method shifts, brands that understand that change are the ones that succeed.

This is one of those moments. If you’re a communicator who hasn’t adapted to this change, you risk building strategies that are invisible to your target audiences.

Third-party validation through earned media is still one of the most powerful tools in a communicator’s toolbox. When credible publications cover your organization independently, this signal tells AI algorithms your content is valuable, before a human ever sees it.

Has AI search changed branded content’s value?

AI has become the new customer voice. AI systems evaluate content differently from human readers. They don’t consider how a placement was procured. Instead, AI systems assess whether the information appears on credible, authoritative sources, if key messages are reinforced consistently across the web, and if signals across those sources indicate genuine expertise and trust.

Almost 3 in 4 consumers (70%) use AI-powered tools including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini during their product research and decision-making process, according to Bain & Company.

When making searches, consumers let LLMs do the work in the search platform itself, instead of clicking through results one at a time. In today’s zero-click environment, brands should strive to be THE answer to consumer queries.

AI doesn’t separate branded content from paid or earned. Instead, it looks for crucial signals like:

• Authority: A source recognized as knowledgeable on a topic
• Consistency: The same message reinforced across multiple trusted sources
• Recency: Current, updated information
• Credibility: Content from reputable publishers, organizations or experts
• Frequency: A brand, topic or perspective repeated over time

2026-08-17T02:01:01

(BPT) – Key takeaways

• Video games can be a powerful tool to teach and preserve history.
• World of Warships, a free-to-play multiplayer naval combat game, offers players an opportunity to immerse themselves in American naval history.
• One of the most recent game updates celebrated America’s 250th anniversary.
• Beyond gameplay, the game’s developer and publisher supports other educational ventures to connect players with military history.

Many modern video games aim to immerse players in the game’s world. And when coupled with historical events, these games can teach history and preserve it for current and future generations. One game that stands at the forefront of this trend is World of Warships, a leading naval multiplayer online game that brings American military history to life.

World of Warships prides itself on being the world’s largest virtual naval museum, boasting 800 ship models and counting. Each ship has been faithfully recreated down to the rivets. As players progress through the game, they’ll have the opportunity to take part in several events inspired by history, including famous World War II battles and other key conflicts across the 20th century.

Celebrating the dawn of the nation

Last month, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, Wargaming — the game’s developer and publisher — released a special update that allows players to explore America’s origins. In the new “Dawn of a Nation” narrative campaign, players could experience the personal stories of four characters from different nations and learn how the Thirteen Colonies won their independence. As players progressed through the campaign, they’d collect narrative-specific rewards, including the formidable Tier VIII U.S. cruiser Congress.

Wargaming continued the Fourth of July celebration in an update to World of Warships: Legends, an adapted version of the original video game featuring faster-paced, arcade-style gameplay. Players could immerse themselves in dedicated historical activities, including the “Three Eras of Freedom” Collection and the “Big Chief” Calendar. By completing the daily calendar, players unlocked the legendary Commander Ernest E. Evans, alongside three Commander guises of notable figures from defining eras of U.S. Navy history.

Beyond gameplay: Preserving America’s naval heritage

Wargaming doesn’t limit its dedication to preserving American history to direct gameplay alone. The game developer has also invested heavily in connecting players with naval museums around the world through its annual “Longest Night of Museums” event.

This year’s event dove into 160 years of torpedo history across seven world-class museums during a special live broadcast on the official World of Warships Twitch channel. Alongside the livestream announcement, a special video commemorated the 85th anniversary of the sinking of the Bismarck, an iconic German battleship.

Another great example of Wargaming’s efforts to preserve and spread knowledge of American naval history is its partnership with the veteran nonprofit FORCE BLUE. Marking the 80th anniversaries of the D-Day landings, and the Battle of Okinawa — two pivotal moments in the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II — Wargaming and FORCE BLUE collaborated on “Frog Fathers: Lessons from the Normandy Surf” and “Frog Fathers 2: Last Battle of the Pacific.”

These documentaries follow two teams of veterans comprised of Navy SEALs, Marines (including actor and FORCE BLUE co-founder Rudy Reyes), and a Green Beret as they follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, revisiting battle sites and retracing the unique challenges faced by the Naval Combat Demolition Unit and Underwater Demolition Teams of old.

Finally, for ongoing historical education, the company’s dedicated YouTube series, Naval Legends, showcases naval museums around the globe and fosters deep appreciation for maritime heritage.

Educational entertainment is a powerful tool. Through its games and educational initiatives, Wargaming proves that playing video games and learning history are not mutually exclusive. To learn more about World of Warships and World of Warships: Legends, visit WorldOfWarships.com.

2026-08-14T15:33:01

(BPT) – Does it feel like heatwaves keep happening, no matter where you live? It’s not your imagination. June 2026 was the second-warmest June on record in North America, and this summer’s heat is forecast to last longer into autumn. That puts more strain on the country’s aging power grid, which can cause rolling blackouts and brownouts when people need cooling and refrigeration most.

Beyond keeping cool when temperatures skyrocket, you need power to prevent food spoilage, and to run your home office and entertainment center. You may not know how much you really need power until you can’t connect to your WiFi router, or use your washer or dryer, blender and hair dryer, and of course all your lighting.

Smart solutions: Portable power stations

Power grid failures and storms have made portable power stations, once considered a “nice-to-have,” must-haves. Fortunately, recent technology advances mean solar generators and portable power stations are more accessible than ever, with a variety of sizes and power outputs to suit the unique needs of every household.

Jackery, a global leader in home backup, innovative solar generators and green off-grid energy solutions, offers multiple options to help you stay cool, whether you live in a house, apartment or anywhere else you want to be. These options give you peace of mind that you’ll have the power you need to work, play and stay cool, no matter what Mother Nature or the power grid is doing.

Options to keep you cool

Here are solar power backup options from Jackery to meet your household’s needs.

Full home backup: Solar Generator 5000 Plus

This option gives you the best of both worlds: connected home backup AND a portable power station. It can keep all your large appliances running thanks to its 5040 Watt hours (Wh) capacity, expandable up to 60 kilowatt hours (kWh). That’s enough power to keep your home running through extended outages, not just overnight. Its Smart Transfer Switch connectivity offers 0 milliseconds (ms) Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) switching to keep computers, appliances and critical devices running without interruption.

The 5000 Plus has a 7200W rated output/14400W surge power and recharges 8 ways, including up to 4000W solar input, giving you full AC charge in as little as 1.7 hours. The unit is compatible with both high- and low-voltage solar panels. It’s also whisper-quiet, under 30 decibels (dB) and indoor-safe, with built-in wheels and pull handle for portability.

Keep several appliances running: HomePower 3600 Plus

This generator’s 3600W output and 3584Wh capacity, expandable to 21kWh, can keep your fridge running up to 14 days. A single unit runs on 120V and pairs for 240V. The unit connects to home circuits via Manual Transfer Switch and recharges six ways, including solar and standard AC power. The 6,000-cycle LFP battery provides over 16 years of durability, and the sub-10ms UPS switching keeps devices like fans, fridges and home offices running through outages.

The HomePower 3600 Plus is also ultra-portable and ready to roll effortlessly from the kitchen to the garage as needed to power your fridge, water pump, dryer and more.

Compact power backup solutions: HomePower 2000 Plus v2 and HomePower 1000 v2

These units are part of Jackery’s newly expanded home backup lineup designed for remote workers, apartment dwellers and homeowners who want reliable backup power and energy independence in more compact footprints.

The HomePower 2000 Plus v2 has a 2400W output and 2048Wh capacity that can be expanded to 12kWh, providing power to weather blackouts with ease. The lightest expandable 2kWh system on the market makes powerful energy more portable than ever. And at just 30dB, it’s so quiet that you can enjoy uninterrupted peace in your workspace or bedroom.

With 1024Wh capacity, 1500W output and sub-10ms switchover, the HomePower 1000 v2 provides professional-grade backup to keep your PC running 100 times longer than a traditional Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). Built-in lightning protection and 3kV surge resistance safeguard your PC and fridge, ensuring your devices remain unharmed during lightning strikes or sudden restarts.

Jackery Priority Routing™ lets you decide what stays powered. When the battery reaches your preset level, it automatically shuts down less critical devices and keeps essentials like your refrigerator, router, lights and other household appliances running as long as possible.

Ultra-compact backup: FridgeGuard

This is the world’s slimmest smart fridge backup, a design-forward solution that keeps refrigerators running during outages, which is especially valuable during heatwaves when food safety and other critical temperature-sensitive items are at risk. FridgeGuard is built with a wall-mountable 2.6-inch profile designed to blend seamlessly and quietly into your kitchen, or wherever its companion appliance is. You can tailor its orientation to any kitchen layout with floor-standing, bracket-mounted or wall-mounted options.

FridgeGuard is purpose-built to protect your home’s most essential, always-on appliance. It can be set up once and remain ready, and switches to battery power in under 10 milliseconds, fast enough that your refrigerator’s compressor never registers a gap. With 1024Wh capacity, FridgeGuard delivers up to 15 hours of runtime (or 30 hours with an expansion battery).

Solar-powered generators to depend on

Jackery’s home backup solutions have LiFePO4 battery chemistry engineered to retain at least 70% of their capacity after 4,000 full operating cycles (Solar Generator 5000 Plus) and 6,000 full operating cycles (HomePower 3600 Plus), about an 11-year and 16-year average lifespan, respectively. They offer eco-friendly, off-grid recharging via solar panels or vehicle setups for everything from short-term outages to long-term emergencies.

Don’t let the next heatwave leave you powerless. Check out all the energy backup solutions at Jackery.com.

2026-08-14T16:37:00

(BPT) – Back-to-school season can bring excitement, a fresh routine … and a long shopping list that can squeeze your family’s budget. And this school year is set to be more expensive than ever before.

According to PwC’s 2026 US Consumer Poll on Back-to-School Shopping, parents expect to spend an average of $922 this year, and nearly half (47%) say they plan to spend more than they did in 2025.

Technology has become an important part of the equation. From coordinating school pickups to sending a reminder about band practice, or accessing digital school resources and communicating with teachers, technology plays a big part in families’ everyday lives. But as costs rise, families are looking for ways to spend smarter. Deloitte’s recent back-to-school survey found that parents are planning to cut technology spending by 16% this year as they put off device upgrades. This makes finding the right value especially important.

So, how can families get the technology and connectivity they need without further straining their back-to-school budgets? One place to start is with their wireless provider.

Metro by T-Mobile is helping families stay connected while sticking to their budgets during one of the most expensive times of the year and beyond. With affordable wireless plans, value-packed device offers and weekly perks, families can find practical ways to save while keeping students connected at school, at home and everywhere in between.

Value-packed device offers

A new school year can be a good time to upgrade a student’s device, but the cost can add up quickly. The good news is that customers who bring their number to Metro now can get a free Samsung Galaxy A37 5G with no activation fees — a $450 value — on the $40 PERIOD plan. Combined with unlimited 5G data and a five-year price guarantee on talk, text and 5G data, families can have peace of mind knowing how much they’ll pay each month for their wireless plan.

Affordable family plans

When it comes to choosing a wireless plan, you need one that makes life easier and more affordable. That’s why Metro offers affordable plans designed to help families stay connected during busy school days, after-school activities and everyday check-ins.

For families with loved ones abroad, Metro also offers unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and select Latin American countries on select plans, making it easier to stay in touch with grandparents and other family members no matter where they are. It’s just one more way Metro delivers value without compromise.

Weekly savings beyond wireless

An affordable family plan and device upgrade offers are just the beginning. Metro customers also get access to T-Mobile Tuesdays offers, including giveaways, discounts at restaurants and more. For families already juggling school supplies, after-school activities and everyday expenses, these weekly offers provide additional ways to save and add a little fun during the school week.

Stay connected while sticking to your budget

Back-to-school shopping may be expensive, but staying connected doesn’t have to be. With affordable plans, smart device offers and weekly savings, Metro helps families stay connected while making room in the budget for whatever else the school year may bring.

To learn more about how you can save this school year without sacrificing connection, visit MetroByT-Mobile.com.

LEGAL: Price guarantee: exceptions apply. $450+ based on Metro device discount and waived activation fee. If you use a lot of data, more than 35GB/mo., you may notice slower speeds when our network is busy. See details at MetroByT-Mobile.com.

2026-08-14T07:01:00

(BPT) – Key takeaways

• Modern academic pathways can be confusing and riddled with barriers.
• Learners desire an education. However, they’re often hindered by affordability issues, confusion around applications and enrollment, and a disconnect with career relevance.
• Institutions that integrate AI platforms into their processes can boost student enrollment and educational outcomes.

For decades, the college journey followed a similar script: graduate high school, enroll full-time, earn a degree in four years and begin a career. That well-worn path still works for some. However, for millions of students, the path through higher education is no longer linear, and institutions are being challenged to adapt.

Today’s learners are balancing jobs, caregiving responsibilities, rising costs and rapidly changing workforce demands. Some start college and pause. Others transfer schools, return later in life or pursue shorter-term credentials to build new skills. Students now expect education to fit into their lives — not the other way around.

This shift in expectations is forcing colleges and universities to rethink how they support student success. Their focus is no longer on enrollment or graduation rates. It has evolved to prioritize helping learners navigate complex journeys with greater clarity, flexibility and confidence.

The good news is that leading institutions are beginning to embrace new technologies, including AI-powered tools, to create more connected and personalized student experiences. When integrated into application, enrollment and academic planning processes, AI can help simplify complex systems, effectively guide students and provide support throughout the student journey. In short, it allows learners to focus more fully on achieving their educational and career goals.

Obstacles that hinder academic achievement

The path to education presented by conventional institutional processes is filled with many hurdles linked to affordability, clarity and relevance.

Affordability: Cost remains the leading barrier to pursuing higher education. According to the 2025 Student Voice Report from Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, 53% of high school students who do not plan to enroll cited cost as the top deterrent.

Similarly, 56% of opt-outs (individuals who never attended college) said financial uncertainty was the top reason for not attending, and almost a quarter of stop-outs (students who started but didn’t complete a degree) said they could not afford the up-front costs to return to school.

While colleges can’t always lower tuition costs, they can make it easier for students to understand expenses, compare aid options and avoid unexpected financial barriers.

Clarity: Administrative tasks students must complete before and after admission can be confusing and unclear, discouraging students from enrolling or returning to college.

In fact, Ellucian’s report found that many high school students are unsure of how to begin the college application process. Instead of seeking information from universities, students are turning to social media for guidance or entering the workforce directly.

Students considering returning to complete their education were discouraged by unclear academic pathways.

According to Ellucian’s report, only 22% of stop-outs understood their remaining credit requirements, and even fewer (15%) felt confident in the credit transfer process. Also, the majority of students interested in transferring credits expressed uncertainty about how their previously earned credits would be recognized.

That said, many former students are interested in returning to their education. Of the students surveyed, 60% of stop-outs said they would return to college with a clear path to completion.

Relevance: Higher education’s benefits and its connection to future careers aren’t always apparent. When surveyed, many individuals opted out because they believed college was not essential for their career goals. Many also didn’t believe the cost and time investment outweighed the benefits of obtaining a college degree/certificate.

Nondegree options that offer upskilling and reskilling opportunities could be a draw for learners seeking a clearer connection to workforce-relevant pathways — if they were aware of them.

The survey report revealed that more than a quarter of enrolled students had never heard of these alternative offerings. Even among those who had heard of nondegree programs, many couldn’t articulate their purpose or value. However, when informed, many graduates, current college students and opt-outs saw the value in nondegree programs.

How can institutions re-engage learners?

So, the question becomes: How can institutions re-engage learners? It begins with unifying academic, financial and operational processes to simplify the student experience from the first application through graduation day, using an AI-powered system such as Ellucian Student.

When integrated into an institution’s application, enrollment and academic planning processes, AI becomes an ongoing resource for students throughout their educational journey.

AI platforms can automate the educational planning process, helping students better understand which classes meet their degree or certificate requirements and enroll in them each semester. And, as they learn, the platform can provide a transparent map of their educational path, leading to better outcomes.

By offering easy-to-understand financial aid offer letters, automated aid processes and optimized fund utilization, an integrated AI platform can help students better understand the total cost of their education, allowing them to plan how to afford higher education, ultimately reducing the top barrier to student enrollment and persistence.

Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from AI integration. Institutions can improve their efficiency by using AI to automate routine operations, freeing up more time for the human element. When faculty and staff spend less time on operational tasks, they can focus more on students to help learners get on track, stay on track and get ahead.

Just as important, institutions need direct input from students to ensure the technologies and processes they implement truly meet learners’ needs. By sharing their experiences and perspectives, students can help shape more accessible, transparent and effective educational journeys for future generations. Students interested in helping shape the future of higher education technology can join EnlightenED, Ellucian’s student ambassador program. Participants gain opportunities to build career-ready skills, expand their professional networks, contribute their perspectives to conversations about higher education innovation and help influence solutions designed to improve the student experience.

2026-08-13T12:59:00

(BPT) – LG’s new global campaign spotlights the mental load of modern life and shows how LG AI can help ease it

News Summary

• LG Electronics launches its 2026 Life’s Good campaign under the key message “Free up your mind.”
• According to LG survey findings, people spend nearly a quarter of the year burdened by mental load — the equivalent of 87 days a year. While people work hard to stay organized, what they miss most is the freedom to be spontaneous.
• Through the campaign, LG AI demonstrates how it can reduce routine demands and free up people’s minds to focus on what truly matters.
• The campaign marks the fourth year of LG’s Life’s Good campaign, showcasing how innovation makes Life’s Good and bringing the brand promise to life.

LG Electronics (LG) launched its 2026 Life’s Good campaign under the key message “Free up your mind.” The campaign explores how LG AI can help reduce the mental load of everyday life by quietly taking care of routine demands, creating more room for people to focus on what truly matters.

The campaign arrives at a time when people work harder than ever to keep everyday life running, yet increasingly struggle to switch off from its demands. According to LG survey findings, people spend nearly a quarter of the year burdened by mental load — the equivalent of 87 days a year. Mental load is the invisible burden of constant information, countless micro-decisions and everyday demands. For many people, mental load follows them home, occupying their minds even during moments of rest and recharge.

“As technology becomes part of everyday life, it should quietly help people reclaim their time and attention to enrich their lives,” said Kim Hyo-eun, head of LG’s Brand Management Division. “Now in its fourth year, the Life’s Good campaign continues to showcase how innovation makes Life’s Good and brings the brand promise to life.”

Building on previous campaign films such as We don’t make life good, you do (2024) and Less artificial. More human (2025), this year’s campaign centers on the growing mental load of modern life and making room for what makes life good.

Bringing the Campaign to Life

The campaign’s hero film follows a family stepping away from the mental load of everyday life for one evening. The film captures small but meaningful moments crowded out by everyday demands, from spontaneous conversations and shared meals to the simple pleasure of being fully present.

With this story, LG invites people to consider a simple question: what might you make room for if you could set your mental load down, even for just one evening?

The campaign’s message comes to life through product-focused films featuring LG WashTower, LG Styler, LG OLED and LG DUALCOOL. The films show how LG products can help reduce everyday mental load by quietly taking care of routine demands, freeing up people’s minds to enjoy life’s meaningful moments.

As part of the campaign, LG also offers an interactive experience designed to help people better understand their own mental load. By answering a set of questions, people can reflect on how much mental load they carry and what contributes to it. By making an invisible burden more visible, LG hopes people will free up their minds to experience Life’s Good.

The campaign is grounded in research that reveals just how deeply mental load has become embedded in everyday life.

The Scale of the Problem

Survey findings show that, on average, people experience 27 mental load interruptions during their waking hours.

“Through my research on high-functioning depression, I’ve found that the constant weight of unshared domestic tasks is a silent trigger for emotional exhaustion,” said Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and a 2026 TIME100 Creator. “LG’s focus on reducing mental load targets the root of this modern crisis. True well-being in the AI era means easing these invisible burdens with intelligent technology, freeing up the psychological capital required to reclaim joy, spontaneity, and human connection.”

The Human Cost

More than half (51%) of respondents said mental load stops them from sleeping well, while nearly half (49%) said it impacts their physical health.

The findings also revealed a key human truth: people work hard to stay organized, yet what they miss most is the freedom to be spontaneous. When asked what they would do if that weight were lifted, people did not reach for greater productivity or achievement. Instead, they spoke about getting lost in a book, spending unplanned time with loved ones and enjoying moments free from everyday responsibilities.

The Role of Technology

The study found that unpaid responsibilities at home contribute more to mental load than paid work, highlighting the opportunity for household technology to make a meaningful difference.

Nearly three in four (73%) of respondents believe the right household technology could help reduce their mental load, with the strongest demand for solutions that proactively handle routine tasks without requiring constant attention.

The findings suggest a clear direction for technology: not simply to help people do more, but to quietly take care of everyday demands so they can spend less time managing life and more time living it. This insight aligns with LG’s Affectionate Intelligence vision and the campaign message: Free up your mind. Life’s Good.

To learn more about the campaign, visit www.lg.com/lifesgood.

Survey Methodology

Fieldwork: Conducted April 24–28, 2026 via Focaldata

Countries: US, UK and Australia

Age: 18–64

Sample size: 3,165 respondents (a minimum of 1,000 per market), nationally representative by age, gender and region

Note: Survey results reflect respondents’ perceptions and do not constitute clinical or scientific evidence of health benefits.

Photo above: A scene from the 2026 Life’s Good campaign film.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics is a global innovator in technology and consumer electronics with a presence in almost every country and an international workforce of more than 75,000. LG’s four Companies – Home Appliance Solution, Media Entertainment Solution, Vehicle Solution and Eco Solution – combined for global revenue of over KRW 89 trillion in 2025. LG is a leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial products ranging from TVs, home appliances, air solutions, monitors, automotive components and solutions, and its premium LG SIGNATURE and intelligent LG ThinQ brands are familiar names the world over. Visit www.LG.com/global/newsroom/ for the latest news.

Media Contacts:

LG Electronics, Inc.	LG Electronics, Inc.
Lea Lee	Jiyoung Bang
+82 2 3777 3981	+82 2 3777 3692
lea.lee@lge.com	jiyoung.bang@lge.com

2026-08-11T23:01:00

(BPT) – It’s back-to-school season. That means your schedule is packed with fall prep like gathering your child’s school supplies, scheduling sports physicals, shopping for a new wardrobe and preparing to send your young adults to college. As you write down your to-dos, make sure to add one more item to your list: vaccinating your teen against meningitis.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes (called meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. Different viruses, bacteria and fungi can cause meningitis, but cases caused by meningococcal disease are especially urgent because they can progress rapidly and may be life-threatening. Of those who develop meningococcal disease, one in 10 will die.

How does meningitis spread?

Meningitis spreads quickly through close contact, including coughing, sneezing, kissing, and sharing drinks, utensils and vapes. Anyone can contract meningococcal disease, but certain groups like preteens, teens and college-age students are at a particularly high risk. At these ages, students spend more time in close contact with their peers in classes, locker rooms, dorms, parties and other group settings.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Meningitis may not seem serious at first. In fact, it can feel like a cold or flu. However, meningococcal disease can become life-threatening within 24-48 hours. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

• Fever/flu-like symptoms
• Severe headache
• Stiff neck
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light
• Confusion
• A dark rash (in some cases)

Symptoms can escalate quickly. If your child’s symptoms appear suddenly, worsen quickly or feel unusually severe, seek medical attention.

Those who survive the disease may face lifelong complications, including brain damage, hearing loss and limb loss. Recognizing symptoms quickly is important, but preventing meningococcal disease before exposure is the best decision you can make for your teen this fall.

How can I protect my children from meningococcal disease?

Vaccination is the best way to reduce your teen’s risk of meningococcal disease. There are two meningitis vaccines that protect against the most serious types (A, B, C, W, Y). Together, these vaccines offer your teen protection against meningococcal disease. These vaccinations are recommended for ages 11-23.

If you’re not sure whether your child has received the recommended meningococcal vaccines, talk with your child’s doctor. They may be able to help review your child’s health records and identify what vaccines may be missing.

Don’t wait until school is back in session

This fall, add meningococcal disease prevention to your back-to-school routine. Make sure to check your child’s vaccination records. If they haven’t received their meningococcal vaccines or need a booster, make sure to schedule an appointment before the first bell rings so you can tackle the new school year with confidence. Or, if they are already back at school, have them get vaccinated at their local clinic. To learn more, visit AmericasMeningitisAlliance.org.

2026-08-11T15:07:00

(BPT) – As families prepare for a new school year, they’re stocking up on everything from notebooks and backpacks to lunchboxes and new shoes. But beyond the traditional back-to-school checklist, many parents are looking for something even more valuable this time of year: small ways to make busy mornings a little less hectic.

Between packing lunches, getting kids dressed, finding missing homework and making it to school before the first bell rings, mornings can quickly become a race against the clock. Once the school day ends, the pace doesn’t slow down, with sports practices, after-school activities, errands and homework filling the evening.

Convenience has become one of the biggest trends shaping the products families choose, including their footwear.

That’s where Skechers enters the picture.

Known as The Comfort Technology Company^®, Skechers has continued to innovate with features designed to make everyday life a little easier. One of its most popular innovations, Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins^®, eliminates one of the smallest, but surprisingly time-consuming, parts of the daily routine: putting on your shoes.

The concept is simple. There’s no bending down, no tying laces and no adjusting the back of your shoe. You simply step in and go. Each pair is designed with Skechers’ unique Heel Pillow^® technology that helps hold the foot securely in place while delivering the comfort consumers have come to expect from the brand.

The beauty of Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins is that the technology isn’t limited to one style. It’s available across a wide variety of footwear for men, women and kids, making it easy for the entire family to enjoy the convenience of hands-free comfort.

For parents balancing work, school drop-offs and packed schedules, styles like Skechers Cozy Fit^® Slip-ins combine soft quilted materials with Contour Foam™ cushioning that adapts to your foot’s unique shape, perfect for tackling busy days without missing a step.

For children heading back to the classroom, Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins encourage independence by making it easy to put on their own shoes. That means one less thing for parents to help with during the morning rush — and one more confidence boost for kids learning to do things on their own.

Those looking for a sportier option can turn to Skechers Glide-Step^® Slip-ins, featuring a unique geometric midsole that promotes natural momentum with every step. Whether it’s walking across campus, heading to the gym, coaching after-school sports or cheering from the sidelines, these versatile sneakers are designed to keep pace with busy lifestyles.

The convenience doesn’t stop there. Skechers also offers Hands Free Slip-ins across its Work collection for teachers, healthcare professionals, restaurant employees and others who spend long days on their feet, as well as performance styles designed for running, golf, pickleball and walking.

With styles available across nearly every lifestyle category, Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins prove that sometimes the smallest innovations can have the biggest impact. During one of the busiest seasons of the year, saving a few moments each morning can help families spend less time rushing — and more time enjoying everything the school year has to offer.

Learn more about the latest Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins collection at skechers.com.

2026-08-11T11:01:00

(BPT) – Imagine being an older adult in rural West Virginia with chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Your conditions need regular monitoring, but the nearest clinic is 90 minutes away — on a good day. When new symptoms arise, along with elevated blood pressure, how do you manage traveling to access necessary medical care?

“The truth is, in many rural communities, it’s often easier and faster to have a pizza delivered than it is to access the healthcare people depend on,” said Darren Sabo, CEO of Primefocus Health, the first venture spinout from LG NOVA, LG Electronics’ North America Innovation Center.

For the 1 in 5 Americans living in rural areas, this is the reality. If you’re managing a chronic illness, the nearest specialist could be a two-hour drive away. If you don’t have reliable transportation, or can’t take a full day off work, you wait — and hope nothing gets worse.

A whopping 80% of rural America is medically underserved, leading to poorer health outcomes. Rural residents are more likely than urban residents to die early from causes like heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease or stroke. While other factors may contribute to this higher health risk, access to healthcare remains one of the biggest challenges.

Rural hospitals and health systems continue to face workforce shortages, hospital closures, financial pressures and infrastructure limitations that worsen the situation.

What it’s really like on the ground

For rural healthcare teams in 2026, the challenge isn’t awareness — it’s capacity. Nurses and care coordinators often manage caseloads that would be difficult anywhere, with limited resources and backup support far away. Adding new programs or technology tools to an already stretched team, without redesigning how that care gets delivered, tends to make things harder rather than easier.

For patients, the barriers are immediate. Long distances, unreliable transportation and limited primary care providers and specialists as well as limited broadband/internet access aren’t merely inconveniences — they’re why people delay care, skip follow-ups and end up in emergency rooms for conditions that could have been managed earlier.

“In parts of Appalachia, patients sometimes travel hours for appointments that take just minutes,” added Sabo. “The math doesn’t work, and most of the systems built to help them haven’t seriously reckoned with that.”

The pandemic introduced digital tools including telehealth, which has seen success in increased appointment completion in some rural areas. However, challenges to adopting new technology persist, including patient education and broadband access. West Virginia, for example, ranks 50th nationally in broadband access. And technology isn’t the complete answer: Personal relationships with healthcare providers remain crucial.

Finding solutions that put patient needs first

A rural healthcare transformation requires technology and a nourishing human connection. Digital health innovations are one piece of the puzzle, but technology alone won’t solve healthcare access challenges in underserved communities.

Solutions need to be designed for the people who need them. Programs producing real results share something in common: They start by asking what patients will actually use and care teams can sustain and build from there.

Primefocus Health is one such solution, reimagining how healthcare happens beyond the clinic by empowering providers and patients through a trusted and customizable digital health platform that bridges the gap between hospital and home. Primefocus Health is building a connected ecosystem where patients can access care, education and remote monitoring tools from home, and providers gain insights they need to guide recovery and improve health outcomes before they become an issue, instead of after.

Technology as a tool, not a substitute for human care

For rural healthcare organizations already operating with limited staffing and growing patient demand, technology adoption — from telehealth appointments and remote patient monitoring (RPM) to AI-powered medical scribes and more — only works when solutions fit naturally into clinical workflows and help providers work more efficiently.

AI and RPM tools must help care teams:

• identify high-risk patients faster
• streamline decision-making
• expand care capacity
• improve outcomes without increasing operational strain

“We’re not trying to replace the current healthcare infrastructure and healthcare workers,” said Sabo. “We’re trying to enhance their abilities.”

This operational-first approach is increasingly important as rural hospitals seek scalable healthcare innovation strategies that really work, despite resource limitations.

One model for a connected care program

In rural Appalachia, a connected care program from Primefocus Health in partnership with the Marshall Health Network is serving patients across West Virginia, southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky to put that idea to the test. Its goal is simple: make it easier for patients managing chronic conditions to stay connected with their care team without making travel the price of admission.

The results were tangible:

• Patients stayed engaged.
• Chronic conditions were better managed.
• People who had been driving hours for routine follow-ups were receiving consistent support closer to home.

What made it work wasn’t the technology alone. It worked because the program was designed with the health system from the start, built around what care teams could realistically sustain, and held to the standard of whether patients were actually doing better.

“Technologies like AI and RPM have enormous potential, but only when implemented thoughtfully, responsibly and with clinical realities in mind,” said Sabo. “The question worth asking is a simple one: Is it actually designed for the people who need it most?”

Rural healthcare is being reimagined right now — in policy, in funding and in technology being deployed across communities that have been underserved for decades.

Learn how Primefocus Health is supporting rural healthcare transformation at PrimefocusHealth.com.

2026-08-07T10:41:00

(BPT) – Do you already have a cat or two, but want to grow your feline family? You may be wondering the best ways to go about it. While it’s true that cats are more social than they’re given credit for, animal behaviorists still recommend a slow, strategic approach when introducing a new cat to your household.

Here are some tips to help your new cat get along more smoothly with cats you already have in your home.

1. Choose your new cat with care

First ensure your new cat is healthy, up-to-date on vaccinations and already spayed or neutered. Reputable animal shelters will be able to provide documentation on each cat’s vaccinations and health screenings. Then you may also want to take them to your regular vet for a checkup.

Contrary to popular opinion, it may be best to consider a mature cat that has a history of living successfully with other felines. Younger cats do not necessarily show deference to an older cat, and some older cats are stressed by a young cat’s high level of energy.

2. Prepare to bring the new cat home

Consider housing the new cat in a separate room or floor before making any introductions. That means providing a new set of everything a cat needs to be comfortable: litter box, food and water dishes, a soft place to sleep and enrichment like toys, a cat condo or places to climb and perch. You may want to consider revamping spaces throughout your home to provide multiple places cats can enjoy before introducing them.

Make sure your new cat and existing cats won’t accidently run into each other every time you open the door to the new cat’s space by setting up a baby gate or barrier. In addition, keep your cats’ claws clipped so they’ll be less likely to do serious injury if they get into a scrap when they first meet.

3. Be patient

Give your new feline lots of time to get used to you, and the space, before attempting introductions. Every cat is an individual, and may take time to become comfortable in their new home. Because they’re so unique, you won’t know who’ll be more stressed about the introduction — your existing cat(s) or the newcomer.

Chances are good your cats are aware of each other long before they can see one another. Feeding or offering treats on opposite sides of the door can foster positive associations before they meet.

4. Introduce them, one sense at a time

Depending on your home’s layout, your cats may already smell and/or hear each other. At the beginning, find ways to limit the senses by which they’re encountering each other. For example, let them smell each other’s scent by swapping their beds or blankets for a few days. If your home allows, try a room swap, letting each cat inhabit the other’s space for a while. You can also try feeding them on opposite sides of a baby gate with a sheet draped over it, so they’ll hear and smell each other without visual contact.

Later, if you have a glass or plastic door or partition, you could feed them within eyesight but without them being able to smell or hear each other well.

5. Watch their behavior

You probably recognize signs of displeasure in your cat, like hissing, growling or their fur fluffing up. More subtle signs of stress can be ears flattening, tail twitching or the death stare: unbroken eye contact between cats who appear frozen in place.

Positive body language may also be visible: tail straight up, ears facing forward. One cat may lean forward to sniff the other cat, even showing playfulness by rolling on their back to reveal their tummy. Signs like this show they’re ready to accept the other cat — though it may not be mutual yet.

If you see signs your cats aren’t happy, don’t panic. A little hissing or growling doesn’t mean they’ll never be friends. Try giving them treats together, or coaxing them to play with favorite toys at the same time. Most importantly, keep their interactions limited and supervised while they figure out this new relationship.

Depending on your individual cats, it may take weeks, months or even years before they happily coexist, but that doesn’t mean all-out warfare. With patience and preparation, you can help your cats successfully navigate their new social interactions.