COVID-19 is no longer a top 10 cause of death

• The U.S. saw roughly 3.07 million deaths in 2024, with a notable 3.8% drop in the overall age-adjusted death rate compared to 2023.

• Mortality fell across most age, sex, and racial/ethnic groups, though the highest death rate remained among Black non-Hispanic individuals, and infants didnt see a meaningful decrease.

• Heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries remained the top causes of death, while COVID-19 dropped out of the top 10 for 2024.
  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released provisional data on the U.S. death rate in 2024. The latest report includes information on death certificates processed up to June 1, 2025.

While there is plenty to unpack from these findings, two of the biggest headlines:

• The overall U.S. death rate is the lowest its been since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

• COVID-19 is no longer a top 10 cause of death.

Provisional death estimates can give researchers and policymakers an early signal about shifts in mortality trends and provide actionable information sooner than final mortality data, the report states. These data can inform public health policies and interventions aimed at reducing mortality.

The study

Researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics used death certificate data covering over 99% of deaths in 2024.

They broke things down by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Causes of death were classified using the standard ICD-10 system, then ranked based on how often they showed up as the underlying cause.

The researchers used U.S. Census population estimates from mid-2024 to calculate death rates, including age-adjusted rates (to account for population age differences) and simple age-specific rates. Statistical tests ensured comparisons were reliable (p-value

The results

In 2024, there were approximately 3,072,039 deaths in the U.S. Overall, the age-adjusted death rate fell to 722.0 per 100,000 people, down from 750.5 in 2023 a 3.8% decrease, which marks the lowest rate since 2020.

Death rates declined across nearly all age groups except infants (under 1 year) showed no significant change and most demographic groups too. Men continued to have a higher death rate than women (844.8 vs. 613.5 per 100,000.

Among different racial and ethnic groups, the lowest age-adjusted death rate was among multiracial non-Hispanic individuals (332.3), while the highest was among Black non-Hispanic individuals (884.0).

The study also broke down the top 10 causes of death across the United States. Notably, COVID-19 has been removed from that list.

Heres a look at the full list:

• Heart disease (683,037 deaths)

• Cancer (619,812)

• Unintentional injuries (196,488)

• Stroke (166,783)

• Chronic lower respiratory diseases (145,612)

• Alzheimers disease (116,016)

• Diabetes (94,382)

• Kidney disease (55,070)

• Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (52,529)

• Suicide (48,863)

The change is intended to make recycling easier and reduce ink and energy use during production

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

The only thing more refreshing than a bottle of cold water might be the fact that it now comes without a label. Sams Club members in China can now buy label-free drinking water under the retailers private brand, Members Mark a move the company says reduces plastic waste and boosts recyclability. What about thirsty consumers in the U.S. There's no word on when or if the label-free bottles will be introduced here.

Cutting plastic & waste

By removing labels from its water bottles, Sams Club is cutting both plastic and ink use, leaving behind a single material thats easier to recycle. The streamlined bottles also save energy during production. Nutrition facts and other details arent disappearing altogether they remain printed on the case packaging, since water will only be sold in multi-bottle packs.

Customer reaction to the minimalist design will help determine whether Sams Club expands the initiative beyond this pilot program.

The Members Mark water is drawn from three protected reservoirs in China: Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang, Wanlv Lake in Guangdong, and Danjiangkou Reservoir in Hubei. The label-free design is intended to reflect the purity of its contents while aligning with Walmarts wider environmental goals.

Asustainability push

While the no-label water bottle grabs headlines, its just one step in a broader effort to make packaging across Sams Club China more sustainable. The company has introduced a variety of changes, including removing unnecessary plastic components, swapping in recyclable alternatives, and using aqueous coatings on paperboard packaging instead of plastic lamination.

One example: Members Mark freeze-dried instant coffee powder recently ditched its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film window and switched to more recyclable coatings, reducing plastic use by nearly 6 grams per box. The new packaging also sports colorful, tropical-themed artwork, underscoring the brands emphasis on sustainability with style.

Global commitments

These local changes fit into Walmarts global sustainability strategy. The company has pledged to become a regenerative business, integrating climate, waste, and nature initiatives into its operations. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Gigaton, launched in 2017, which aims to eliminate 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Walmart achieved that goal six years early, in February 2024, thanks to partnerships with more than 330 suppliers in China alone.

Sams Club executives say the label-free water is more than just a packaging update its an invitation for consumers to weave sustainability into daily life. By rethinking something as ordinary as a water bottle, the company hopes to make the sustainable choice the easy choice.

The expansion brings charging stations to nearly 40 states

• More than 200 Pilot and Flying J travel centers now feature fast charging stations.

• The network includes roughly 850 public fast charging stalls across nearly 40 states.

• Partners aim to reach 2,000 stalls at 500 sites to enable coast-to-coast EV travel.

National charging network expands rapidly

A collaboration between Pilot Company, General Motors and EVgo has added significant momentum to the nations electric vehicle charging network, with more than 200 travel centers now offering fast charging. The expansion provides drivers with approximately 850 stalls spread across nearly 40 states, delivering critical infrastructure for long-distance EV travel.

The partners launched their initiative in 2022 and are already nearly halfway to their goal of building up to 2,000 fast charging stalls at 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers nationwide. By the end of 2025, the group projects it will reach 1,000 stalls across 40 states.

Filling gaps along key travel routes

The rapid buildout has prioritized interstate corridors that carry more than one-fifth of U.S. traffic, helping to address one of the largest obstacles to EV adoption: charging availability on long trips. The companies note that at the start of 2025, fewer than half of U.S. rural counties had even a single fast charging stall.

In the past year alone, the network has grown from serving just over 25 states to nearly 40, adding coverage in Colorado, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Texas, Missouri and Florida have also seen significant expansion.

Improving the driver experience

The charging stations are located at Pilot and Flying J travel centers, providing EV drivers access to free Wi-Fi, on-site dining, and other amenities while they charge. Many sites feature overhead canopies and pull-through stalls designed for vehicles towing trailers.

Each stall uses EVgos 350kW fast chargers, capable of delivering a rapid recharge, and most support Plug and Charge technology. This allows compatible EVs to automatically initiate and pay for a session simply by connecting the charger, eliminating the need for additional steps.

Charging access should never get in the way of an EV journey, said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy. This collaboration ensures that drivers can confidently travel anywhere, anytime.

Looking ahead

The three-way partnership is part of a larger national push to ensure EV infrastructure keeps pace with surging consumer demand. By building a robust charging backbone across highways and in rural communities, Pilot, GM and EVgo aim to make coast-to-coast EV travel routine rather than exceptional.

Drivers can find available charging locations at pilotcompany.com/ev-charging.

Fans and some critics suspect 'holdbacks,' a tactic that can keep prices high

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Fans flooded social media with complaints after presale queues stretched into the millions.

• Many who made it through found all tickets marked sold out almost instantly.

• Industry insiders blame possible ticket holdbacks, a tactic that frustrates consumers but props up prices.

Fans say ticket hunt was impossible

Ariana Grande fans are venting their frustration after tickets for her 2026 Eternal Sunshine Tour proved nearly impossible to secure. Since presales began September 9, social platforms have been filled with complaints about long queues in some cases more than a million people deep.

Even those who managed to get through the hours-long wait often found every option labeled sold out. When general sales opened the next day, tickets in many cities vanished within minutes, prompting Ticketmaster to warn fans that only very limited seats remained.

https://www.ticketnews.com/2025/09/ariana-grande-fans-ticketmaster-eternal-sunshine-tour/Questions swirl over ticket availability

The rapid sellouts have led to accusations that promoters and ticketing platforms restricted public access. At least one industry source claimed that in some markets only about 1,000 tickets were released to the general sale, with the rest held back for presales or later release.

Such holdbacks are a common but controversial tactic: tickets are set aside and released in small waves, sustaining demand and keeping prices elevated by maintaining the illusion of scarcity. Fans also criticized Grande for booking arenas rather than stadiums, saying her fan base could easily have filled larger venues after a seven-year touring hiatus.

Ticketmaster faces wider backlash

Grandes fans are only the latest to complain about Ticketmasters systems. In recent years, fans of Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Sleep Token and Green Day have all endured long online queues, error messages and abrupt price spikes that left many empty-handed.

Critics say the platforms dominance allows it to operate without meaningful accountability, even as fan frustration mounts with each high-profile tour launch.

Grandes return to the road

The Eternal Sunshine Tour will open June 6, 2026, at Oakland Arena in California and wind through the U.S. and Canada before closing with five nights at Londons O2 Arena in August. Multiple cities, including Austin, Sunrise, Atlanta and Montreal, will host repeat shows.

Grande last toured in 2019 with the Sweetener World Tour, which sold out arenas worldwide. Her comeback follows the release of Eternal Sunshine, the 2024 album that debuted atop the Billboard 200 and cemented her as one of pops most enduring stars.

2026 tour dates