Consumer News: The GLP-1 effect? U.S. obesity rate falls for the first time in years

New research sheds light on how artificial brightness could raise your cardiovascular stakes

• Even when taking into account exercise, diet, sleep habits and genetics, higher nighttime light exposure was linked with increased heart and vascular issues.

• Researchers tracked nearly 89,000 adults for up to 9.5 years using wrist-worn light sensors to see how light at night fits into heart health.

• People in the highest night-light exposure group had significantly higher risks of coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke.

We know things like diet, smoking, exercise and sleep matter for heart health but what about the lights in your bedroom?

A new study led by Flinders University in Australia found that being exposed to brighter light at night may be an independent risk factor for serious heart- and blood-vessel related problems.

The researchers suggest that, beyond what you already know about lifestyle, simply living and sleeping in a brighter-than-dark environment may be doing its own damage.

This is the first large-scale study to show that simply being exposed to light at night is a strong and independent risk factor for heart disease, researcher Dr. Daniel Windred said in a news release.

Disrupting your bodys internal circadian clock by repeatedly exposing yourself to bright light at night, when it would typically be dark otherwise, will put you at a higher risk of developing dangerous heart issues.

The study

To get at this question, the team used data from the UK Biobank cohort: 88,905 adults aged over 40 who wore wrist-mounted light sensors for about a week.

The sensors recorded personal light exposure both during the day and at night (defined roughly from 12:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.). The researchers then followed these participants for up to 9.5 years (June 2013 to November 2022) to see who developed cardiovascular issues such as coronary artery disease, heart attack (myocardial infarction), heart failure, atrial fibrillation or stroke.

They adjusted for many potential confounders: age, sex, ethnicity, household income, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet score, sleep, physical activity and even genetic risk of cardiovascular disease.

The results

The researchers found that the more light people were exposed to while sleeping, the higher their odds of developing heart problems later on. Those in the brightest nighttime-light group were noticeably more likely to experience major cardiovascular conditions even after accounting for other health factors like exercise, diet, and genetics.

Compared to people who slept in darker environments, those with the most night-time light exposure had about:

• 30% higher risk of developing coronary artery disease, which can block blood flow to the heart

• 50% higher risk of a heart attack or heart failure, both of which can be life-threatening

• 30% higher risk of atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes irregular heartbeat

• 25% higher risk of stroke, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted
  

Interestingly, the connection between night light and heart disease appeared stronger in women and younger adults, suggesting that some groups may be more sensitive to light exposure during sleep.

Even when researchers controlled for sleep duration and quality, physical activity, and family history, the link remained meaning light at night itself may play a role.

Keeping the lights low

The researchers emphasized that even small habits can make a difference when it comes to our sleeping habits and risk of heart concerns.

Thankfully, we do have some control over our exposure to light at night, Dr. Windred said. By using blackout curtains, dimming lights, and avoiding screens before bed, we can help to reduce the health risks associated with light at night.

Everyday habits, like scrolling on your phone in bed or falling asleep with the TV on or bedroom lights on, can expose you to potentially harmful levels of light, Associate Professor Andrew Phillips said in the news release.

Were not talking about extreme cases, even low levels of indoor light can interfere with your bodys natural rhythm.

22 states fight Education Department over loan forgiveness restrictions

• New York Attorney General Letitia James leads 22-state lawsuit challenging new rule limiting Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

• The rule would let the federal government disqualify state agencies and nonprofits based on perceived illegal activities.

• Coalition argues the regulation is politically motivated and threatens millions of public servants loan relief.

Attorneys general say rule turns loan forgiveness into political weapon

New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of 21 other attorneys general in suing the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon, alleging that a new federal rule unlawfully narrows eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

The coalitions lawsuit contends that the rule, finalized October 31, gives the federal government sweeping and arbitrary power to declare entire state governments, schools, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations ineligible for PSLF based on ideology rather than law.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness was created as a promise to teachers, nurses, firefighters, and social workers that their service to our communities would be honored, James said in announcing the suit. Instead, this administration has created a political loyalty test disguised as a regulation.

A new test for acceptable public service

The PSLF program, established by Congress in 2007, forgives remaining federal student loan debt after ten years of qualifying service with a government or nonprofit employer. More than one million borrowers have already had loans forgiven, including tens of thousands of New Yorkers.

Under the new rule, however, the Department of Education could unilaterally decide that an organization has a substantial illegal purpose a term not defined in the PSLF statute and strip its employees of eligibility. The departments interpretation of illegality, the attorneys general argue, conveniently mirrors the administrations political targets, including organizations that:

• Support immigrants

• Provide gender-affirming care

• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, or

• Engage in political protest.

The rule, set to take effect in July 2026, would give the federal government discretion to deny forgiveness to borrowers who work for employers it disfavors potentially leaving teachers, healthcare workers, and legal aid attorneys without relief after years of qualifying payments.

Public servants could wake up one day to find they no longer qualify for PSLF because their employer fell out of favor with Washington.

Potential nationwide fallout

The lawsuit warns that the rule could destabilize the public workforce nationwide. State and local governments rely on PSLF to recruit and retain employees in critical areas such as education, healthcare, and law enforcement.

If this rule stands, the complaint states, entire classes of public workers could lose eligibility through no fault of their own, creating widespread confusion, fear, and instability.

For example, the attorneys general note that the Department of Justices past lawsuit against New Yorks Protect Our Courts Act could have rendered thousands of state employees suddenly ineligible for PSLF under the new standard.

Legal challenge argues rule exceeds federal authority

The coalition contends the rule violates both the law that created PSLF and the Administrative Procedure Act. The PSLF statute, they argue, clearly guarantees forgiveness to anyone working full-time in qualifying public service with no ideological exceptions. The new substantial illegal purpose clause, they say, is arbitrary and capricious, granting the Education Department unchecked power to redefine public service based on political preference.

The attorneys general are asking the court to vacate the rule and block its implementation.

What the states PSLF lawsuit means for your student loan forgiveness

It is unjust and unlawful to cut off loan forgiveness for hardworking Americans based on ideology.
New York Attorney General Letitia James

A new federal rule could change who qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and 22 states are suing to stop it. Heres what you need to know if you work in government or the nonprofit sector.

Who could be affected

The rule, set to take effect in July 2026, would give the U.S. Department of Education sweeping power to declare entire employers ineligible for PSLF if it determines they have a substantial illegal purpose.

That phrase isnt defined in law, and critics say it could be used to punish certain types of organizations. Among those that could be targeted:

• Nonprofits providing immigrant support

• Clinics offering gender-affirming care

• Schools or agencies with diversity and inclusion programs

• Groups involved in social or political advocacy

If an employer is disqualified, its workers could lose PSLF eligibility even if theyve already made years of qualifying payments toward forgiveness.

What borrowers should do now

• Check your employers eligibilityusing thePSLF Employer Search Tool.

• Keep making paymentsto stay on track for forgiveness.

• Save all documentation payment records, employment certifications, and correspondence.

• Stay informedthrough official sources such as yourstate attorney generals officeorstudentaid.gov.

• Avoid .You never have to pay for PSLF assistance; ignore calls or emails offering instant forgiveness.

Tip:If youve switched jobs, submit a new PSLF certification form right away it keeps your record current and protects your progress.

What happens next

The rule hasnt taken effect yet and is now being challenged in court by New York Attorney General Letitia James and 21 other state attorneys general. The coalition argues the change is politically motivated and unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Until the courts rule, PSLF continues as usual. Borrowers can still earn credit toward forgiveness if they meet existing requirements.

Related: Federal Student Aid PSLF Overview

Why this matters

More than one million borrowers have received forgiveness through PSLF since 2007, including thousands of teachers, nurses, and social workers.
If the new rule survives, entire classes of public employees could lose eligibility overnight not because they changed jobs, but because Washington decided their employers mission no longer fits federal preferences.

The 22-state lawsuit seeks to stop that from happening before it affects borrowers.

Here's what's happening along with practical tips to fight back

• Grocery loyalty apps dont just give you discounts,they track who you are, what you buy, and how often you shop, then use it to target you or sell to advertisers
• Stores do this because grocery margins are tiny, so personalized "deals", repeatoffers, and targeted advertisingmakes you more profitable
• You can still get the deals without oversharing by using a shopping-only email, not linking payment, limiting location tracking, and opting out of data sharing

Grocery stores arent just selling you milk and eggs these days, theyre selling your data too. Every time you punch in your phone number, scan a loyalty card, or open a grocery app for a digital-only price, the store learns a little more about you. What you buy. When you buy it. How much youre willing to pay. And in a lot of cases, that information doesnt just sit there. It gets analyzed, used to target you, and sometimes shared with partners.

Here'swhat's really happening and how you can limit the personal information you give out and still scoredeals.

Whats actually being tracked

The store cantrack the following when you use a loyalty card or app:

• Your identity (name, email, phone)
• Your purchase history (every item, size, brand, and price)
• Your visit patterns (Sundays at 10am, every 68 days, big trip before holidays)
• Your coupons and offers (which ones made you buy and which ones you ignored)
• Your device/app behavior (you opened the app near the store, clicked on the weekly ad, loaded offers, etc.)

Put all of this together and they start to get a pretty clear picture of your household and spending habits. For example, if you always buy gluten-free, they know it. If you switched from a national-brand cereal to a store-brand, they know youre price-sensitive. If you only buy baby products once a month, they can guess what stage youre at raising your family.

Why grocery stores care so much

The profit marginon groceries is thin and so stores want as much data on you as possible to maximize their profits.

Heres how they use the data they collect to try and get you to pay more.

1.Price discrimination (the legal kind): they can show you a deal in their app to keep you loyal, while another shopper potentially pays full price.

2.Offer optimization: if a $2 off yogurt coupon got you to switch brands, they know to hit you with it again in 30 days.

3. Ad money: many grocery chains now sell audiences to specific brands. So if youve bought pasta in the last 30 days, a pasta brand can pay to show you a targetedad. Thats why your shopping history makes you more valuable.

4.Shrink and forecasting: by knowing what people actually buy, store by store, it helps them stock products that will sell, price them competitively, and reduce overall waste.

So no, its not just for rewards. Your data is part of the business model.

Where the privacy creep happens

Here are the privacy concerns that shoppers dont always notice:

Personalized offers in the app: sounds friendly and useful, but in actuality it usually means a profile of your shopping behavior has been created.

Location permissions: you let the app see where you are, so it can ping you in-store or confirm visits. All info that can be used to track how often you shop, which stores you prefer, and the products to get in front of your eyeballs.

Linked payment or credit card: once you save a card to your grocery account (usually via their app), the store can connect you to every trip, not just the ones where you typed your phone number. This means your name, the card you used, and what you bought can all be tied to the same profile.

How to get the deal without oversharing

Keep in mind that you dont have to pay a higher non-member price to keep some of your privacy. You just have to think a little differently when it comes to how you share your information.

Create a separate shopping only email address

Use a separate email address that is just for shopping and dont give the store extra demographic info when signing up for their loyalty program. Many stores should let you sign up with only a phone number and ZIP.

Dont link everything

If the grocery store app asks you to link a credit card for faster checkout, skip it. I recommend paying separately, thereby keeping your payment information private. The more systems you connect, the clearer the picture they have on you.

Turn off location and background tracking

In your phone settings, set the grocery app to While Using or Never. You can still load digital coupons without giving them 24/7 location. Also, avoid using a stores Wi-Fi as it can easily track your movements in-store, includingwhich aisles you tend to browse the longest.

Opt out of data sharing and marketing

Most big grocery chains have a privacy page on their website where you can opt out of targeted ads or the selling or sharing of your data. Takes only a couple minutes, worth it.

Use the deals, not the personalization

Keep in mind that you can open the weekly ad and clip the public digital coupons, then just simply close the app. You dont need to browse for 30 minutes, favorite a ton of items, and in the process let them build a profile on every brand you like. Just clip the digital offers and get out.

Pay attention to receipts

Some chains print Because you bought offers on their receipts. Use these receipts to figure out exactly how closely theyre watching you. This serves as a good reminder to go tighten your privacy settings on their app or website.

When to think twice about sharing your purchase history

There are a few situations where handing over your shopping data is definitely not worth the coupon.

Here are some three examples worth considering:

Health-related buys: specialty diet products, OTC meds, and personal-care products. If you dont want these purchasestied to you, dont buy with a loyalty account.

Shared households: if multiple people use the same loyalty number, youre all in one shopping profile. So your coupons and recommended deals may be based on someone elses shopping patterns which is not always helpful.

Cross-app logins: signing into the grocery app with Google/Apple/Facebook can connect more dots than you realize. I get that its convenient, but it can also link your shopping activity to a broader profile thats harder to untangle later.

U.S. News & World Report's best places to retire list is a stable full of dark horses

Midland, Michigan, takes the top spot in U.S. News & World Reports 2026 Best Places to Retire rankings
Expanded analysis covers more than 850 cities, up from 150 last year
Quality of life and retiree migration trends shape a new top 10 list

Midland, Michigan, has been named the No. 1 place to retire in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Reports 2026 Best Places to Retire rankings, released Tuesday. The small Midwestern city rose to the top for the first time thanks to strong scores in affordability and favorable retiree tax conditions.

Midland, population about 48,000, is the corporate home of Dow Chemical Co. It's also the home of the 110-acre Dow Gardens, which featuresAmerica's longest treetop canopy walk,andThe Tridge,a distinctive three-legged pedestrian bridge.

The annual rankings now expanded to evaluate more than 850 U.S. cities, up from 150 last year are based on how well each location meets retirees expectations for quality of life, affordability, health care, retiree taxes, and the job market. For the first time, U.S. News also factored in population and migration data for residents ages 55 and older.

Quality of life drives retirement choices

Retirees are prioritizing quality of life over affordability for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tim Smart, contributing editor and author of U.S. News retirement newsletter, YOLO: Your Smart Guide to Retirement. Whether seeking a bustling city or a quiet town, retirees are now empowered with a more precise view of the best places to settle down.

The 2026 rankings were weighted using results from a national survey of Americans aged 45 and older, asking what matters most when choosing where to retire. In response, U.S. News made quality of life the most heavily weighted factor, ahead of affordability.

A new mix of cities in the top 10

The expanded methodology and larger data set produced a completely reshuffled top 10 list that includes several first-time entrants. Weirton, West Virginia, ranked No. 2 for its strong scores in quality of life and affordability, while Homosassa Springs, Florida, came in third, buoyed by growth in its 55-plus population.

Top 10 places to retire in 2026

1. Midland, Michigan

2. Weirton, West Virginia

3. Homosassa Springs, Florida

4. The Woodlands, Texas

5. Spring, Texas

6. Rancho Rio, New Mexico

7. Spring Hill, Florida

8. Altoona, Pennsylvania

9. Palm Coast, Florida

10. Lynchburg, Virginia

How the rankings were built

U.S. News compiled its rankings using data from federal, state and local sources, including the FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis and its own Best Hospitals rankings. The analysis is part of the publications real estate coverage, which also offers tools to help consumers navigate housing markets and evaluate local economies.

The full list of 250 cities and details about the methodology are available at realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-retire.