Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
Featured Stories
Prosperity Now Receives $1 million Wells Fargo Foundation Grant to Support VITA Organizations Nationwide
WASHINGTON, March 26 [Category: Economics] -- Prosperity Now (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development) posted the following news release:
* * *
Prosperity Now Receives $1 million Wells Fargo Foundation Grant to Support VITA Organizations Nationwide
As millions of families and workers continue to face financial pressure and rising costs, Prosperity Now announced that it has received a $1 million dollar Wells Fargo Foundation grant to support IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) organizations nationwide. This grant expands access to trusted, no-cost tax return preparation
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 26 [Category: Economics] -- Prosperity Now (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development) posted the following news release:
* * *
Prosperity Now Receives $1 million Wells Fargo Foundation Grant to Support VITA Organizations Nationwide
As millions of families and workers continue to face financial pressure and rising costs, Prosperity Now announced that it has received a $1 million dollar Wells Fargo Foundation grant to support IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) organizations nationwide. This grant expands access to trusted, no-cost tax return preparationservices and helps more workers and families claim the refunds and credits they have earned.
The philanthropic investment will strengthen community-based VITA organizations and expand Prosperity Now's efforts to provide grants, training, and technical assistance to providers across the country. These programs ensure eligible individuals can prepare accurate tax returns and claim refundable credits for which they qualify, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC).
Each year, millions of eligible individuals do not claim valuable tax credits. In 2025, approximately 24 million workers and families benefited from the EITC, receiving nearly $70 billion in total credits, with an average refund of $2,894. For many households, a tax refund represents one of the largest single payments they receive all year, helping cover essential expenses such as housing, groceries, childcare, utilities, and education.
"At a time when families continue to navigate rising costs, access to trusted, no-cost tax return preparation is more important than ever," said Marisa Calderon, President and CEO of Prosperity Now. "We are deeply grateful to the Wells Fargo Foundation for this philanthropic investment, which will allow us to expand support for VITA organizations and help more families access the full refunds and credits they've earned."
Professional tax preparation services can be costly, with average fees for a basic return often exceeding $200. For households managing tight budgets, those fees can create additional strain. VITA programs help remove that barrier by offering trusted, no-cost tax return preparation services in community settings.
"At Wells Fargo, we believe that financial health is the foundation for opportunity," said Bonnie Wallace, Head of Financial Opportunity Philanthropy for Wells Fargo. "That belief is what connects us so strongly to Prosperity Now's vision: ensuring every individual and family has access to the tools they need to build stability and long-term prosperity. Our commitment to help strengthen VITA sites nationwide will expand access for families and connect tax time with broader financial opportunities.
Prosperity Now works with hundreds of VITA organizations across the country through its Tax Opportunity Network, the nation's leading professional network for practitioners and organizations providing tax preparation services. Through this investment, Prosperity Now will provide grants as well as year-round training, technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities to help VITA providers strengthen service delivery and expand access to tax assistance in their communities.
***
Original text here: https://www.prosperitynow.org/news-and-insights/prosperity-now-receives-1-million-wells-fargo-foundation-grant-to-support-vita-organizations-nationwide
OMRF scientist receives American Heart Association grant
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, March 26 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
* * *
OMRF scientist receives American Heart Association grant
*
A three-year grant from the American Heart Association will fund an Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist's study of an autoimmune disease that sometimes results in organ failure.
Charmain Johnson, Ph.D., received the American Heart Association's Career Development Award, which comes with a $240,000 research grant.
Johnson will study the role of a protein called RIPK3 in systemic sclerosis, a disease that affects
... Show Full Article
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, March 26 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
* * *
OMRF scientist receives American Heart Association grant
*
A three-year grant from the American Heart Association will fund an Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist's study of an autoimmune disease that sometimes results in organ failure.
Charmain Johnson, Ph.D., received the American Heart Association's Career Development Award, which comes with a $240,000 research grant.
Johnson will study the role of a protein called RIPK3 in systemic sclerosis, a disease that affectsabout 300,000 Americans.
In systemic sclerosis, white blood cells mistakenly attack the body, causing chronic inflammation, vascular damage and progressive tissue scarring in skin and other organs.
Johnson will investigate whether excessive production of RIPK3 causes blood vessels to become leaky, creating a pathway for white blood cells to escape and contribute to tissue scarring. She hopes to show that the protein's absence leads to fewer white blood cells traveling to the lungs.
"My study focuses on the lung, as it is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis and currently lacks effective treatment," Johnson said. "I expect to find that without RIPK3 in the blood vessels, we can slow disease progression."
The findings ultimately could lead to a treatment aimed at preventing interstitial lung disease, a primary cause of death associated with systemic sclerosis.
Johnson is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of OMRF's vice president of research, Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., who called Johnson's research "extremely promising."
Separately, the American Heart Association recently awarded a two-year, $70,000 grant to Irma Gryniuk, a graduate student at OMRF who will investigate two eye diseases marked by the abnormal growth of retinal blood vessels.
Griffin, who received grants from the American Heart Association as a graduate student and a postdoctoral researcher, understands the role they can play in launching a researcher's career.
"An AHA award keeps young scientists invested and committed to cardiovascular biology because it makes them feel like they're part of the research community," Griffin said. "The awards I received as a trainee helped keep me in the field for 30 years."
***
Original text here: https://omrf.org/omrf-scientist-receives-american-heart-association-grant-2/
New Scorecard Finds Major Food Companies Backsliding on Pesticide Commitments as Federal Protections Erode
OAKLAND, California, March 26 -- As You Sow Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
New Scorecard Finds Major Food Companies Backsliding on Pesticide Commitments as Federal Protections Erode
*
Updated Pesticides in the Pantry scorecard reveals industry regression; company average scores fall to a low of 2.5 out of 27 points as regulatory shifts accelerate
MEDIA CONTACT: Ryon Harms, rharms@asyousow.org, (310) 730-9407
EL CERRITO, CALIFORNIA - March 26, 2026 - As You Sow, the nation's leading shareholder representative, today released its updated Pesticides in the Pantry scorecard,
... Show Full Article
OAKLAND, California, March 26 -- As You Sow Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
New Scorecard Finds Major Food Companies Backsliding on Pesticide Commitments as Federal Protections Erode
*
Updated Pesticides in the Pantry scorecard reveals industry regression; company average scores fall to a low of 2.5 out of 27 points as regulatory shifts accelerate
MEDIA CONTACT: Ryon Harms, rharms@asyousow.org, (310) 730-9407
EL CERRITO, CALIFORNIA - March 26, 2026 - As You Sow, the nation's leading shareholder representative, today released its updated Pesticides in the Pantry scorecard,revealing that major food manufacturers have regressed on pesticide reduction practices and disclosure. The updated scorecard finds that the industry average score has fallen to just 2.5 out of 27 points-a failing grade-with several former leaders eliminating commitments they previously touted.
The findings come at a critical moment for pesticide policy. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to designate glyphosate-based herbicides as essential to national security, potentially shielding manufacturers from liability. The order drew criticism from supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement, who have long advocated for reducing pesticide exposure-highlighting divisions over pesticide policy even within the administration's coalition. Meanwhile, the proposed 2026 Farm Bill includes provisions that would prohibit states from mandating health warnings on pesticides that differ from EPA-approved labels, and the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Monsanto v. Durnell on April 27, a case that could determine whether federal law bars state failure-to-warn lawsuits brought by more than 100,000 plaintiffs who allege glyphosate caused their cancer.
The updated scorecard assessed 17 major food companies across nine key performance indicators related to pesticide transparency, risk reduction, and farmworker protection. General Mills, which led the scorecard in 2023 received a score of 0 points this year, after removing its pesticide-related disclosures. ADM and Conagra, which also earned some of the highest scores in 2023, similarly backslid. Only four companies improved their scores: Del Monte, Post Holdings, Lamb Weston, and Nestle. Of particular note, zero companies across the industry have adopted farmworker protection policies or standards for high-concern pesticides like neonicotinoids-a class of systemic, neurotoxic insecticides linked to massive pollinator die-offs and associated with potential developmental, neurological, and reproductive harms in humans.
"At a time when federal regulators are weakening oversight and shielding chemical manufacturers from accountability, corporate transparency on pesticide use has never been more important," said Cailin Dendas, Environmental Health Coordinator at As You Sow. "Instead, we're seeing companies move backward-eliminating commitments and reducing disclosure. This backsliding not only puts consumers, farmworkers, and ecosystems at risk, but increases supply chain and farm level risk, and decreases accountability to shareholders."
The full Pesticides in the Pantry scorecard, including company-by-company rankings and detailed methodology, is available here.
As You Sow is the nation's leading shareholder representative, with a 30+ year track record promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility. As You Sow addresses a range of issues that affect shareholder value including climate change, ocean plastics, toxins in the food system, biodiversity, racial justice, and workplace diversity. See As You Sow's shareholder resolution tracker.
***
Original text here: https://www.asyousow.org/press-releases/2026/3/25/new-scorecard-finds-major-food-companies-backsliding-on-pesticide-commitments-as-federal-protections-erodenbsp
Jury Verdicts Against Meta Validate Longstanding Investor Concerns on Child Safety, Trafficking, and Platform Harm
OAKLAND, California, March 26 -- As You Sow Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
Jury Verdicts Against Meta Validate Longstanding Investor Concerns on Child Safety, Trafficking, and Platform Harm
*
MEDIA CONTACT: Ryon Harms, rharms@asyousow.org, (310) 730-9407
EL CERRITO, CA -March 26, 2026 - Two landmark jury verdicts this week against Meta Platforms, Inc. have confirmed what shareholder advocates and impacted users have warned for nearly a decade: the company's failure to address harmful content and platform design risks has created profound legal, financial, and societal
... Show Full Article
OAKLAND, California, March 26 -- As You Sow Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
Jury Verdicts Against Meta Validate Longstanding Investor Concerns on Child Safety, Trafficking, and Platform Harm
*
MEDIA CONTACT: Ryon Harms, rharms@asyousow.org, (310) 730-9407
EL CERRITO, CA -March 26, 2026 - Two landmark jury verdicts this week against Meta Platforms, Inc. have confirmed what shareholder advocates and impacted users have warned for nearly a decade: the company's failure to address harmful content and platform design risks has created profound legal, financial, and societalconsequences.
This week, a jury in New Mexico found that Meta's platforms facilitated the grooming and harm of minors, while a separate jury in Los Angeles determined that Meta's products are addictive and have caused widespread harm to children and adolescents. These decisions underscore escalating litigation risk and raise urgent questions about corporate governance, fiduciary oversight, and long-term shareholder value.
For the past decade, shareholders have repeatedly raised concerns about these exact risks through direct engagement and formal proposals filed on the company's annual proxy. Advocacy organizations including Proxy Impact, As You Sow, many faith-based investors, and pension funds have filed shareholder resolutions addressing hate speech, child exploitation, sex trafficking, harmful algorithms, and disinformation across Meta's platforms.
Notably, In support of its shareholder resolution, Proxy Impact brought forward testimony at a Meta annual general meeting from a survivor of sex trafficking that was facilitated through Facebook where she met a man who kept her imprisoned and prostituted her. This directly illustrates the real-world harms tied to platform failures. Despite these warnings, Meta leadership consistently resisted the meaningful reforms flagged by high shareholder votes seeking changes to address these harms.
"Shareholders identified these risks years ago-not as abstract concerns, but as material threats to users, society, and the company," said Michael Passoff, CEO of Proxy Impact. "This week's verdicts make clear that ignoring those warnings has now translated into legal and financial liability."
Meta has long relied on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to argue that it bears no responsibility for user-generated content. However, internal evidence and external reporting have shown that the company chose to not fully implement known technical solutions to detect, remove, and prevent harmful content-and to ban repeat offenders as well as end end-to-end encryption designed to protect these perpetrators.
Critics argue that the company's failure to act reflects governance choices, not technological limitations. The fact that CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a 10:1 voting preference and therefore virtually no oversight puts the blame squarely on his shoulders. The trials showed that Zuckerberg prioritized platform growth and user engagement over enforcement, even in cases involving child exploitation.
The shareholder record demonstrates a consistent pattern of concern, with multiple votes earning between 40% and 60% of independent shareholder votes representing hundreds of billions in value:
\- A 2024 proposal requested targets including quantitative metrics appropriate to assessing whether Meta has improved its performance globally regarding child safety impacts and actual harm reduction to children on its platform.
\- A 2018 proposal on content governance risks warned of Meta's systemic failures in monitoring and enforcement.
\- A 2021 proposal called for a report on risks tied to content governance failures that exposed Meta to litigation and regulatory action.
\- Ongoing proposals have addressed harms related to children, hate speech, and disinformation.
Despite these efforts, Meta's dual-class share structure has muted the impact of independent shareholder voices. With a 10:1 voting advantage, Zuckerberg retains effective control over corporate decisions with no oversight from his own board or his investors.
"This is exactly what happens when corporations have no real shareholder oversight," said Andrew Behar, As You Sow's CEO. "One person, due to a stock-class preference, decided that it was okay to harm children and a generation has suffered. This is going to be like tobacco and opioids combined even though shareholders warned of this risk for a decade. And right now, the SEC is attempting to dismantle shareholder power so more CEOs have no oversight."
In 2022, a proposal filed by As You Sow received 63% support from independent shareholders, yet only received 19% official shareholder support due to the preference-weighted voting structure. This disparity highlights systemic governance concerns and raises broader questions about whether current proxy voting frameworks accurately reflect investor sentiment.
"These votes are not fringe-they represent a majority of independent capital," Behar added. "When governance structures obscure that reality, they distort accountability."
The recent verdicts may mark an inflection point. Juries made up of regular citizens have called Meta to account for its putting profits over safety. As litigation risk materializes and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, investors are increasingly likely to reassess exposure to companies with unresolved governance and oversight failures.
"Shareholder proposals function as an early warning system," Passoff concluded. "In Meta's case, that alarm was sounding for years. The cost of ignoring it is now clear."
As You Sow is the nation's leading shareholder representative, with a 30+ year track record promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility. As You Sow addresses a range of issues that affect shareholder value including climate change, ocean plastics, toxins in the food system, biodiversity, racial justice, and workplace diversity. See As You Sow 's shareholder resolution tracker.
***
Original text here: https://www.asyousow.org/press-releases/2026/3/26/nbspjury-verdicts-against-meta-validate-longstanding-investor-concerns-on-child-safety-trafficking-and-platform-harm
Georgia Public Policy Foundation Issues Commentary: Major Education Bills Advance in Georgia Legislature as Session Nears End
ATLANTA, Georgia, March 26 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following commentary by policy analyst J. Thomas Perdue:
* * *
Major Education Bills Advance in Georgia Legislature as Session Nears End
This year's Georgia legislative session is about to enter its final week, and as in every year, education policy has been a key issue.
The legislature continues to debate school choice and scholarship policy, building on the creation of the Promise Scholarship in 2024, and refining that program figures to be an annual endeavor for years to come. While much of this session's education
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, March 26 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following commentary by policy analyst J. Thomas Perdue:
* * *
Major Education Bills Advance in Georgia Legislature as Session Nears End
This year's Georgia legislative session is about to enter its final week, and as in every year, education policy has been a key issue.
The legislature continues to debate school choice and scholarship policy, building on the creation of the Promise Scholarship in 2024, and refining that program figures to be an annual endeavor for years to come. While much of this session's educationagenda should be ideologically familiar, it was also broad, with other efforts including improving literacy, bolstering charter schools and adjusting curriculum.
This year's changes to the Promise Scholarship involved a cleanup bill: Senate Bill 445. It was sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), who also sponsored the Promise Scholarship Act. The bill excludes public schools with statewide attendance zones (such as virtual schools) and certain charter schools from the list of public schools the Office of Student Achievement publishes each year for Promise Scholarship purposes. This matters because the Promise Scholarship program depends on which public schools count toward eligibility; a definitional problem like this can affect who is considered eligible.
SB 445 passed the Senate on March 6, and is currently in the House Education Committee.
Lawmakers are aiming for more equitable funding with the establishment of the Georgia Charter School Facilities Authority as a way to address one of charter schools' most persistent practical disadvantages: paying for buildings in which to operate. Charter schools are public schools, but they often lack the same access to local capital funding that traditional district schools do.
Senate Bill 498, sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett), would create a new financing vehicle designed to help charter schools obtain revolving loan funds and other public financing assistance for construction, renovation and repair projects. It also authorizes the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission to issue general obligation bonds for charter-school facilities, which is a sign that lawmakers are trying to treat facilities access as a structural barrier rather than a one-off budget problem.
SB 498 passed the Senate on March 6 and passed the House Appropriations Committee on March 24.
Another school choice issue is Georgia's effort to expand and refine its student scholarship organization (SSO) program. Sponsored by Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton), House Bill 328 would raise the annual aggregate cap on available tax credits for contributions to SSOs from $120 million to $225 million. House Bill 1220, sponsored by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins), would broaden eligibility for certain students, including military families and students with disabilities. Together, the bills reflect an effort to make the program both larger and more accessible. HB 328 passed the House on March 6, and HB 1220 passed on March 4.
Lawmakers have also spent part of the session preparing Georgia to participate in a new federal scholarship tax-credit program set to begin in 2027. Under that program, individuals could receive a federal income tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to approved scholarship-granting organizations, but only if a state opts in and designates eligible organizations. Georgia has already been listed by the IRS as a participating state for 2027, and Senate Bill 446 (also sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon and carried by Rep. Scott Hilton) would codify and administer that participation. In practical terms, the measure would not replace Georgia's existing SSO program so much as add a new federal incentive on top of it, potentially expanding the role scholarship organizations play in the state's broader school-choice landscape.
While many of these bills are related to larger efforts to expand access to education, there's plenty going on within the classroom as well. Georgia lawmakers have begun to focus more heavily on literacy, especially in the early grades. Part of this push includes the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, designated House Bill 1193.
This effort, introduced by Rep. Chris Erwin (R-Homer), includes expanded use of literacy coaches, stronger state direction around early reading instruction and early identification of children struggling to read. In some respects, HB 1193 resembles the kind of state-led literacy strategy seen in other states that have improved their early literacy metrics, such as Mississippi's emphasis on literacy coaches and phonics-based language instruction. HB 1193 passed the House on February 24, and it had a hearing in the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday.
That isn't the only classroom-related bill. Lawmakers are also looking to expand last year's "Distraction-Free Education Act," which banned students' use of cell phones in class in K-8, into high school. This is House Bill 1009, sponsored by Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), and it was passed by the Senate March 23. Another classroom bill is Sen. Jason T. Dickerson's (R-Canton) Senate Bill 513, the "Every Day Counts Act." This would tighten Georgia's response to chronic absenteeism by defining when repeated unexcused absences trigger formal intervention plans and by attaching stronger consequences for students who continue to miss school.
Whether it be expanding access and choice for Georgia students or improving outcomes in the classroom, each legislative session brings challenges both new and familiar. As we approach the end of the session, we are gaining a clearer view of lawmakers' priorities and the future of education in the state.
***
Original text here: https://www.georgiapolicy.org/news/major-education-bills-advance-in-georgia-legislature-as-session-nears-end/
Fiscal Confidence Falls to 21-Month Low, as National Debt Soars Past $39 Trillion
NEW YORK, March 26 -- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
Fiscal Confidence Falls to 21-Month Low, as National Debt Soars Past $39 Trillion
*
Last week, the national debt surpassed $39 trillion for the first time, and Americans' fiscal confidence dropped to its lowest level in nearly two years. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation's U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index fell to 43 in March (100 is neutral), the lowest level since June 2024, indicating that voters across party lines have deep concerns about the rapid increase in debt, and are calling for their leaders
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, March 26 -- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
Fiscal Confidence Falls to 21-Month Low, as National Debt Soars Past $39 Trillion
*
Last week, the national debt surpassed $39 trillion for the first time, and Americans' fiscal confidence dropped to its lowest level in nearly two years. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation's U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index fell to 43 in March (100 is neutral), the lowest level since June 2024, indicating that voters across party lines have deep concerns about the rapid increase in debt, and are calling for their leadersto take action. Additionally, Americans make a strong connection between rising debt and their personal cost of living and economic outlook.
The new national survey, jointly conducted by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research, finds:
* 90% of voters (including 94% of Democrats, 92% of independents and 86% of Republicans) are concerned that the national debt's effect on inflation is increasing the cost of living, including prices for groceries, energy, housing, transportation, and other goods and services. Democrats remain the most intensely concerned (63% very concerned), while intensity grew sharply among independents (56% very concerned, up eight points) and Republicans (45% very concerned, up nine points).
* Looking ahead to this year's elections, 83% of voters (including 85% of Democrats, 77% of independents and 85% of Republicans) say having a plan to address the debt is a deciding factor in supporting a candidate.
* In addition, 74% of voters (including 68% of Democrats, 81% of independents and 74% of Republicans) say they would consider supporting a candidate from a political party they do not usually support, if that candidate had a clear plan to address the debt.
* 95% of voters say candidates this year should clearly explain their plan to prevent an automatic 23% annual cut to Social Security benefits -if Congress does nothing to address Social Security's deteriorating finances, these automatic cuts will occur in 2032, during the term of U.S. Senators elected this November.
* More than 7 in 10 voters want to hear more than they have heard over the past month about how candidates will tackle the debt and its impact on the cost of living.
"The national debt surpassing $39 trillion is a clear warning that it's time for a fiscal course correction," said Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation. "Today's new survey shows that voters are concerned about how the national debt is increasing their own cost of living, and their worries are growing. In this year's election, voters are ready to support leaders who advance solutions to our debt, because they understand it's critical for their own economic outlook."
March's U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index shows widespread agreement that addressing the debt should be a top-three priority for the president and Congress (82% agree/13% disagree), including agreement among 81% of Democrats, 76% of independents and 87% of Republicans. Intensity of agreement is also rising, with a majority of voters now strongly agreeing that the national debt should be a top priority (56%, up from 52% in February).
The Fiscal Confidence Index measures public opinion about the national debt by asking six questions in three key areas:
* CONCERN: Level of concern and views about the direction of the national debt.
* PRIORITY: How high a priority addressing the debt should be for elected leaders.
* EXPECTATIONS: Expectations about whether the debt situation will get better or worse in the next few years.
The survey results from these three areas are weighted equally and averaged to produce the Fiscal Confidence Index value. The Fiscal Confidence Index, like the Consumer Confidence Index, is indexed on a scale of 0 to 200, with a neutral midpoint of 100. A reading above 100 indicates positive sentiment. A reading below 100 indicates negative sentiment.
Fiscal Confidence Index Key Data Points:
* The March Fiscal Confidence Index value is 43\. (The February value was 48. The January value was 50.)
* The current Fiscal Confidence Index score for CONCERN about the debt is 39, indicating deep concern about the debt. The score for debt as a PRIORITY that leaders must address is 20, indicating that Americans want elected leaders to make addressing long-term debt a high priority. The score for EXPECTATIONS about progress on the debt is 69. The Fiscal Confidence Index is the average of these three sub-category scores.
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation commissioned this poll by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research. The online poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide between March 16 and March 18, 2026. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
Detailed results can be found online at www.pgpf.org/FiscalConfidenceIndex.
***
Original text here: https://www.pgpf.org/press/2026-3-fci-press-release/
Chancellors Brandon Creighton and Glenn Hegar to Speak at TPPF's 2026 Texas Policy Summit
AUSTIN, Texas, March 26 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
Chancellors Brandon Creighton and Glenn Hegar to Speak at TPPF's 2026 Texas Policy Summit
*
AUSTIN -Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation announced that Texas Tech University Chancellor Brandon Creighton and Texas A&M University Chancellor Glenn Hegar will co-headline a special keynote conversation during the Thursday, April 9th breakfast session of this year's Texas Policy Summit.
Both Chancellors bring a wealth of conservative leadership to two of our state's premier university systems.
... Show Full Article
AUSTIN, Texas, March 26 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
Chancellors Brandon Creighton and Glenn Hegar to Speak at TPPF's 2026 Texas Policy Summit
*
AUSTIN -Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation announced that Texas Tech University Chancellor Brandon Creighton and Texas A&M University Chancellor Glenn Hegar will co-headline a special keynote conversation during the Thursday, April 9th breakfast session of this year's Texas Policy Summit.
Both Chancellors bring a wealth of conservative leadership to two of our state's premier university systems.During his time in the Texas Senate, Chancellor Creighton was the architect of historic reforms to eliminate DEI bureaucracies and restore merit and viewpoint diversity to our campuses. Meanwhile, Chancellor Hegar was renowned for his fiscal discipline as the State's Comptroller. Together, they are leading the charge to ensure our universities remain engines of innovation rather than outposts for radical indoctrination.
Who: Texas Tech University Chancellor Brandon Creighton, Texas A&M University Chancellor Glenn Hegar
What: Texas Policy Summit
When: April 9th, 2026
Where: AT&T Conference Center | 1900 University Ave. Austin, TX 78705
Learn more about Texas Policy Summit and view the full agenda at TexasPolicySummit.com
Click here to register for Texas Policy Summit as a member of the media.
***
Original text here: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/chancellors-brandon-creighton-and-glenn-hegar-to-speak-at-tppfs-2026-texas-policy-summit
Overwhelming Majority of Wyoming Wells Fargo Bank Branch Employees Back Petition for Vote to Remove CWA Union Bosses
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, March 25 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
Overwhelming Majority of Wyoming Wells Fargo Bank Branch Employees Back Petition for Vote to Remove CWA Union Bosses
*
Wells Fargo employees across the country moving to terminate union affiliation
Casper, WY (March 25, 2026) - Employees at Wells Fargo's Casper branch have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking a "decertification" election to remove the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union bosses from their workplace. The
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, March 25 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
Overwhelming Majority of Wyoming Wells Fargo Bank Branch Employees Back Petition for Vote to Remove CWA Union Bosses
*
Wells Fargo employees across the country moving to terminate union affiliation
Casper, WY (March 25, 2026) - Employees at Wells Fargo's Casper branch have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking a "decertification" election to remove the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union bosses from their workplace. Theworkers' efforts are spearheaded by Megan Wright, who filed the petition with free legal aid from the National Right to Work Foundation.
The NLRB is the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal labor law, a task that includes administering elections to install (or "certify") and remove (or "decertify") unions. Wright's petition was signed by the vast majority of her Wells Fargo coworkers, easily surpassing the required threshold of signatures needed for the NLRB to schedule a decertification vote.
The workers' petition requests the NLRB schedule a secret ballot election among all full-time and regular part-time tellers, personal bankers, relationship bankers, and branch operations coordinators employed by Wells Fargo at a Casper, WY branch. The workers will vote on whether to remove the so-called "Wells Fargo Workers United" union (an affiliate of the CWA union).
"CWA union officials have not made our workplace better and we are confident we would be better off without them," stated Wright. "At this point we simply want an election so we can vote to take back our branch."
Wyoming is one of the 26 states with Right to Work protections that safeguard workers from being forced to pay union dues or fees under threat of termination. However, even under Right to Work, union bosses can impose monopoly bargaining control over all employees in a workplace, including those who are opposed to the union's representation. A successful decertification would end union officials' monopoly bargaining powers.
The Casper, WY workers' decertification effort comes almost a week after the Foundation assisted Wells Fargo employees in Spring Hill, FL, file a petition to remove CWA from their branch. The NLRB has scheduled the Spring Hill election for March 30. In yet another decertification effort, last week Wells Fargo employees in Apex, NC, overwhelmingly voted to remove the CWA union from their branch.
"Despite the headlines generated by CWA's campaign to gain control over Wells Fargo employees, it is increasingly becoming clear to rank-and-file bank employees that they are better off without the CWA's so-called 'representation,'" commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. "The Foundation is proud to be a resource for Ms. Wright and other Wells Fargo employees seeking to exercise their right to free themselves from unwanted unions.
"These Wells Fargo employees are just the latest in an ongoing trend, with NLRB statistics showing a nearly 40% rise in filed decertification petitions over the past five years," Mix added.
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Share
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.
Posted on Mar 25, 2026 in News Releases
***
Original text here: https://www.nrtw.org/news/wells-fargo-decert-wy-03252026/
High levels of carcinogen discovered in European gas supply
LONDON, England, March 25 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release:
* * *
High levels of carcinogen discovered in European gas supply
*
High levels of the carcinogen benzene have been discovered in the domestic gas supply for multiple Western European cities by US researchers.
With low level gas leaks common in homes, "hazardous leaks are likely underreported in Europe" concluded a peer-reviewed paper by researchers at PSE Healthy Energy, an energy science and policy research institute, and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. The paper was published
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, March 25 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release:
* * *
High levels of carcinogen discovered in European gas supply
*
High levels of the carcinogen benzene have been discovered in the domestic gas supply for multiple Western European cities by US researchers.
With low level gas leaks common in homes, "hazardous leaks are likely underreported in Europe" concluded a peer-reviewed paper by researchers at PSE Healthy Energy, an energy science and policy research institute, and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. The paper was publishedtoday in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
Benzene was found in all 72 domestic gas samples collected by the US researchers in homes in the UK, the Netherlands and Italy. The substance occurs naturally in oil and gas fields, has no safe exposure level according to the World Health Organization and is associated with leukaemia and other long-term adverse health effects and diseases. The researchers found that UK gas samples had 37 times more benzene than in typical North American gas, on average, while Dutch samples had 66.5 times more. Gas in London was found to contain 64x and Amsterdam 73x the benzene concentration of typical North American gas, on average, while Milan, the only Italian city studied, had 8.5 times more [1].
The researchers also checked homes for gas leaks that occur chronically, when cookers were switched off. Gas leaks were found in approximately 40% of the kitchens visited in the three countries. Gas stove leak data and benzene concentrations in gas were combined in household modelling to estimate annual exposure. The researchers conservatively [2] calculated that 9% of homes visited in the UK, Netherlands and Italy had leaks large enough to exceed a UK and EU exposure limit for benzene, while 14% exceed the more strict World Health Organization lifetime (WHO) guidance level [3].
Extrapolating to a population level in conservative calculations outside the research paper [4], hundreds of thousands of people, mostly in the UK and the Netherlands where benzene readings were higher, are likely exposed above the regulatory limit, the researchers estimated. Modelled benzene exposure from the larger leaks measured in these two countries is worse than living with a smoker, in terms of benzene exposure alone.
The researchers also tested gas for sulfur-based odourants, added by gas companies to help people detect leaks and avoid explosions. In all cases outside Italy, odourant levels were too low to alert most people to leaks large enough to lift concentrations of benzene in indoor air above WHO and regulatory limits. Exposure could rise nine times over the national limit in the UK (nearly 40x in London) and nearly five times the EU limit in the Netherlands (nearly 15x in Amsterdam) before a gas leak could be smelled at the average odour level measured in gas, the researchers calculated.
PSE air quality scientist and lead author of the study, Tamara Sparks, PhD, said: "We were surprised by how high the benzene levels were compared to what we've seen in our previous studies. Given these high concentrations, a lot of people are likely being chronically exposed to benzene without knowing it. We have little clarity on why gas leaks occur in some homes and not others, making this benzene hazard essentially a lottery. This has so far flown under the public's radar, but we hope that, by bringing attention to it, action can be taken to reduce this threat. People can reduce their personal risk by opening windows to get more fresh air, but there's only so much an individual can do when this gas is piped into their home."
The research is the first to reveal the widespread presence and risk of benzene in European home gas supplies [5] and follows a similar discovery in North America. It is part of PSE's Methane + Health Initiative, which assesses air pollution and health risks from known methane sources. PSE and Stanford researchers previously established the rate benzene is created as cookers burn fossil gas, the direct health implications, as well as wider leak concerns.
Co-author and Professor of Earth system science at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Rob Jackson, PhD, said: "We're just learning how much benzene enters our homes by burning gas indoors. Now we find a second source of dangerous toxins entering our home air. This finding should trouble us all."
Today's paper also modelled a spike in benzene following a large UK pipeline leak in 2023. At its peak, this lifted concentrations of the carcinogen four times beyond an EU 8 hour worker safety limit up to 50 metres downwind, the modelling found, with lower levels predicted as far as 10 kilometres downwind, potentially exposing tens of thousands of people in Cheltenham and Bishops's Cleeve.
PSE executive director Seth Shonkoff, PhD, MPH said: "The levels of benzene we found in the distribution system gas in the UK and the Netherlands are frankly eye-popping. That means even a small leak can pose significant health risks quickly indoors and outdoors. Whether it's leaking from a pipeline or a stove in someone's kitchen, it's all the same gas, and health risk travels with it."
Research funding came from the European Climate Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.
Wellcome Trust head of mitigation, Rachel Huxley, PhD, said: "We expect our homes to be the safest place we spend our time. This study shows that everyday use of gas can put people at unnecessary health risks. Because gas is primarily methane - a powerful super pollutant - even small leaks, expose communities to harmful air pollutants and worsen climate change. The findings underscore the significant health impacts from indoor air pollution and air toxics such as Benzene. This study shows the importance of science in understanding risks to our health, and in helping governments and businesses to support policies that reduce pollution and promote healthy homes and communities."
Having established a large, previously unrecognized benzene exposure pathway in Europe, today's study concluded that safeguarding the public from benzene exposure in Europe will require grappling with our relationship with natural gas.
Notes to editors
The paper will be published in Environmental Research Letters here: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ae499f while a summary and links to the paper will be available at PSE's website here: www.psehealthyenergy.org/work/gas-stove-benzene-emissions-europe
[1] See today's paper for the full methodology. The collected samples were analysed under contract by the ISO 17025 accredited lab Tera Environnement. Comparisons with North American gas are based on recent research by PSE and Stanford.
[2] Exposure calculations were kept conservative. Further to this, potential additional benzene exposure from when cookers were in active use were excluded, as were potential leaks from other gas appliances in homes.
[3] The WHO considers benzene a "major public health concern" for which "no safe level of exposure can be recommended", though it has set guidance for lifetime exposure, above which "excess" cancer cases can be expected. Governments ( EU, UK ) have set weaker limits for annual average exposure outside. While regulators have been tightening outdoor exposure limits, the study shows that indoor exposure also creates significant health risks. Benzene was the most toxic and prevalent of six hazardous pollutants identified by the researchers.
[4] The extrapolation of the modelled over-exposure rate to a population level is stated as an order of magnitude, rather than a precise figure, to reflect the uncertainties involved. It assumes that the range of observed leaks in homes is representative of those found in the larger population and is paired with statistics on gas usage and an estimate of typical window-opening behaviour for ventilation. Follow up research is needed to reach precision.
[5] This is the first study to sample gas for benzene in European homes, the first to measure gas leaks in those homes and the first to model benzene exposure from these sources in indoor and outdoor air.
About PSE Healthy Energy
PSE Healthy Energy is a scientific research institute generating energy and climate solutions that protect public health and the environment. PSE provides expertise in public health, environmental science, and engineering and brings science to energy policy through actionable research, communications, and advising.
About Wellcome
Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
***
Original text here: https://wellcome.org/insights/articles/high-levels-carcinogen-discovered-european-gas-supply
Conservation Law Foundation: Win in the Fight Against Gas Leaks in Boston and Chelsea
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 25 (TNSrpt) -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
A Win in the Fight Against Gas Leaks in Boston and Chelsea
A judge has recommended that a lawsuit against National Grid should move forward. The case was brought by Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), local green groups, and city residents over the company's failure to prevent methane gas leaks that pose explosive dangers, kill trees, and cost residents and businesses money.
"These ongoing gas leaks put communities in danger, intensify extreme heat, and suffocate the trees that our
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 25 (TNSrpt) -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
A Win in the Fight Against Gas Leaks in Boston and Chelsea
A judge has recommended that a lawsuit against National Grid should move forward. The case was brought by Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), local green groups, and city residents over the company's failure to prevent methane gas leaks that pose explosive dangers, kill trees, and cost residents and businesses money.
"These ongoing gas leaks put communities in danger, intensify extreme heat, and suffocate the trees that ourneighborhoods depend on," said Heather Govern, CLF's vice president for clean air and water. "This court's report and recommendation brings us one step closer to more accountability for gas companies and meaningful protections for the people most affected."
A street survey by CLF showed National Grid pipelines leaking harmful levels of methane, which creates explosion hazards in dense neighborhoods, kills trees, and worsens climate change.
Methane levels from gas leaks were dangerously high in Chelsea and the Boston neighborhoods of Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, South End, and along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Back Bay - and many of these neighborhoods are already exposed to high levels of pollution and have limited access to trees and green space.
CLF found more than 200 public shade trees dead or dying near leaking gas pipelines where high levels of methane were found to be in the soil around the trees. And the loss of public shade trees in urban neighborhoods creates more dangerous heat islands and makes air pollution worse as temperatures rise this summer.
CLF's survey also found 15 locations where leaks are serious enough to pose threats of fire and explosion and alerted National Grid to the danger spots.
The pipeline system is aging with hundreds of new explosive-level leaks popping up every quarter, sometimes in the same location where repairs were previously made, according to National Grid's own data. The company spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year to replace pipelines that continue to leak.
The magistrate judge's recommendation now heads to the district court judge, which will decide whether to adopt the ruling or not.
* * *
REPORT: https://www.clf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/041-03-25-2026-Report-and-Recommendation-re-Defs-Motion-to-Dismiss.pdf
***
Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/a-win-in-the-fight-against-gas-leaks-in-boston-and-chelsea/
Breakthrough T1D Supports Bipartisan INSULIN Act Introduced by U.S. Senators Shaheen, Collins, Warnock, and Kennedy
NEW YORK, March 25 -- Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, posted the following news release:
* * *
Breakthrough T1D Supports Bipartisan INSULIN Act Introduced by U.S. Senators Shaheen, Collins, Warnock, and Kennedy
*
NEW YORK, March 25, 2026 - Breakthrough T1D, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, applauds Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock(D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA), for introducing the bipartisan INSULIN Act of 2026, aimed at lowering the cost of insulin
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, March 25 -- Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) a non-profit dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research, posted the following news release:
* * *
Breakthrough T1D Supports Bipartisan INSULIN Act Introduced by U.S. Senators Shaheen, Collins, Warnock, and Kennedy
*
NEW YORK, March 25, 2026 - Breakthrough T1D, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, applauds Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock(D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA), for introducing the bipartisan INSULIN Act of 2026, aimed at lowering the cost of insulinand strengthening access to the drug for the millions of Americans who rely on it every day to live. Recent progress in reducing insulin prices has helped, but affordability remains a serious challenge for many people with T1D.
The INSULIN Act would cap monthly insulin cost sharing at no more than $35, or 25% of the list price, in the group and individual market health plans, prohibit utilization management barriers, such as prior authorizations, on capped products, and require pharmacy benefit managers to pass through 100% of insulin rebates and discounts to plan sponsors, which would help people in the form of reduced premiums. The INSULIN Act also promotes generic and biosimilar competition, while supporting uninsured individuals through a pilot grant program in 10 states, a federal access study, and the creation of a national insulin resource center and hotline.
"Breakthrough T1D commends Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA) for introducing this bipartisan bill to lower the cost of insulin for the millions of Americans who rely on it to live," said Lynn Starr, Breakthrough T1D's Chief Global Advocacy Officer. "The INSULIN Act builds on the meaningful progress made in recent years to reduce insulin prices and includes several long-standing priorities for which Breakthrough T1D has advocated. We are proud to support this legislation and urge the Senate to move swiftly to advance it."
Breakthrough T1D and the T1D community have been advocating for insulin affordability for years, engaging with Congress, employers, health insurance companies, and drug manufacturers. While the organization continues to drive toward cures for T1D, it is also working to make everyday life better for those with T1D. Breakthrough T1D looks forward to continuing to work with lawmakers to advance the INSULIN Act.
About Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF)
As the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with type 1 diabetes better while driving toward cures. We do this by investing in the most promising research, advocating for progress by working with government to address issues that impact the T1D community, and helping educate and empower individuals facing this condition.
About type 1 diabetes (T1D)
T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short and long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death. Globally, it impacts 9.5 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D.
***
Original text here: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/for-the-media/press-releases/breakthrough-t1d-supports-bipartisan-insulin-act-introduced-by-u-s-senators-shaheen-collins-warnock-and-kennedy/
Once Again, Maine DEP Allows Juniper Ridge Landfill Expansion to Move Forward
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 23 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
Once Again, Maine DEP Allows Juniper Ridge Landfill Expansion to Move Forward
Portland, ME - The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a new public benefit determination allowing the proposed expansion of the Juniper Ridge Landfill to move forward despite overwhelming concerns about pollution, public health, and the impacts on the Penobscot Nation.
"The court couldn't have been clearer: look at the full picture - the pollution, the history, the cumulative harm," said
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 23 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
Once Again, Maine DEP Allows Juniper Ridge Landfill Expansion to Move Forward
Portland, ME - The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a new public benefit determination allowing the proposed expansion of the Juniper Ridge Landfill to move forward despite overwhelming concerns about pollution, public health, and the impacts on the Penobscot Nation.
"The court couldn't have been clearer: look at the full picture - the pollution, the history, the cumulative harm," saidNora Bosworth, staff attorney at Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). "Instead, DEP has once again treated environmental justice as a checkbox rather than a commitment to the people the law was meant to protect."
The decision comes after a Penobscot County Superior Court judge rejected DEP's earlier approval and ordered the agency to reconsider the project's cumulative environmental justice impacts. That ruling resulted from an appeal by the Penobscot Nation and CLF.
"For generations, the Penobscot Nation has worked to raise the many impacts our community faces at once - on our health, our lands, and the Penobscot River, the oldest citizen of our Nation," said Kirk E. Francis, Tribal Chief of the Penobscot Nation. "This decision does not reflect the lived reality of our people. Our voices and our knowledge of this place must be meaningfully considered when those in power make decisions that will impact our land and community."
The Penobscot Nation and CLF are reviewing the updated determination to evaluate next steps.
The proposed expansion of the state-owned landfill, operated by Casella Waste Systems, has long raised concerns about PFAS contamination, air pollution, and the cumulative environmental burdens placed on nearby communities.
Experts are available for further comment.
***
Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/once-again-maine-dep-allows-juniper-ridge-landfill-expansion-to-move-forward/
TPPF Challenges City of Austin's Unconstitutional Transportation Tax
AUSTIN, Texas, March 23 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
TPPF Challenges City of Austin's Unconstitutional Transportation Tax
*
AUSTIN - Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a complaint, on behalf of local taxpayers, against the City of Austin for imposing an unconstitutional tax on utilities customers. The Transportation User Fee (TUF) has been tacked onto utilities bills since the 1990s and can cost households more than $260 per year.
Under the Texas Constitution, a tax must be equal and uniform, and the amount must be tied to property
... Show Full Article
AUSTIN, Texas, March 23 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
TPPF Challenges City of Austin's Unconstitutional Transportation Tax
*
AUSTIN - Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a complaint, on behalf of local taxpayers, against the City of Austin for imposing an unconstitutional tax on utilities customers. The Transportation User Fee (TUF) has been tacked onto utilities bills since the 1990s and can cost households more than $260 per year.
Under the Texas Constitution, a tax must be equal and uniform, and the amount must be tied to propertyvalues. Under the Texas Tax Code, a new tax cannot be imposed without voter approval. This so-called "fee" violates all of those requirements.
"When a city wants to impose new taxes, it needs to hold an election so taxpayers have a say before more of their money goes to the government," said TPPF Attorney Heidi Walusimbi. "Disguising new taxes as fees not only violates Texas law, it gives the City carte blanche to fill its coffers, while silencing the very people who fund it. This case reminds the City that if it wants more funds, it needs to ask first."
To read the original petition, click here.
***
Original text here: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/tppf-challenges-city-of-austins-unconstitutional-transportation-tax
Colon cancer vs. rectal cancer: What's the difference?
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, March 23 -- The Prevent Cancer Foundation issued the following news:
* * *
Colon cancer vs. rectal cancer: What's the difference?
*
Colorectal cancer, colon cancer and rectal cancer are often lumped together or even used interchangeably, leading to some confusion as to the relationship between these cancer types.
Colorectal cancer has been grabbing headlines in recent years after the deaths of several prominent celebrities from colon or rectal cancer, including Catherine O'Hara, James Van Der Beek, and Chadwick Boseman. Their stories are a powerful reminder of the importance
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, March 23 -- The Prevent Cancer Foundation issued the following news:
* * *
Colon cancer vs. rectal cancer: What's the difference?
*
Colorectal cancer, colon cancer and rectal cancer are often lumped together or even used interchangeably, leading to some confusion as to the relationship between these cancer types.
Colorectal cancer has been grabbing headlines in recent years after the deaths of several prominent celebrities from colon or rectal cancer, including Catherine O'Hara, James Van Der Beek, and Chadwick Boseman. Their stories are a powerful reminder of the importanceof early detection of these diseases.
Below, we're spelling out the differences in colon cancer and rectal cancer and explaining how they fit together under the umbrella that is colorectal cancer.
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is the third-most common cancer in the United States. It is cancer that begins in the colon or rectum and can often be prevented with a screening colonoscopy by removing polyps (grape-like growths on the wall of the large intestine, which includes both the colon and rectum) before they become cancerous.
A colon cancer diagnosis or a rectal cancer diagnosis is each considered a colorectal cancer diagnosis.
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), approximately 70% of colorectal cancer cases in the United States originate in the colon.
What is rectal cancer?
Rectal cancer is a cancer that forms in the tissues of the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus). Approximately 30% of colorectal cases in the United States originate in the rectum, according to the NIH.
Similarities between colon cancer and rectal cancer
The colon and rectum are both parts of the large intestine, and the term "colorectal cancer" can refer to cancer in either or both areas.
Risk factors
Both colon cancer and rectal cancers share several risk factors, such as diet, age and genetics. You are at increased risk for colon cancer and rectal cancer if you:
* Drink alcohol in excess
* Eat a lot of red or processed meat
* Smoke
* Are overweight or obese
* Are not physically active
Symptoms
Colon cancer and rectal cancers also share several symptoms. Talk to a health care provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:
* Bleeding from the rectum or blood in or on the stool
* Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
* Change in bowel movements that lasts more than a few days
* Stools that are more narrow than usual
* General abdominal problems such as bloating, fullness or a feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that's not relieved by having one
* Persistent abdominal cramps
* Unexplained vomiting, diarrhea or constipation
* Weight loss for no apparent reason
Your personal and family health histories also factor into your colon cancer and rectal cancer risk. If you have a family history of colon or rectal cancer, especially first-degree relatives such as your sibling, child or parent, you have an increased chance of developing the disease. Additionally, you are at increased risk if you have a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
People between the ages of 50 and 75 are at greater risk of getting colorectal cancer than younger people, but colorectal cancer has been on the rise in younger adults in recent years. Earlier this month, a study from the American Cancer Society showed nearly half of all new colorectal cancer diagnoses are in adults under the age of 65.
You should begin screening at age 45 if you are at average risk for colorectal cancer. If you are at increased risk, you may need to start screening earlier or be screened more often-talk to your health care provider about what's right for you.
RELATED | 5 myths about colorectal cancer
Differences between colon cancer and rectal cancer, and why it's important for you
Demographics
Statistically, women are more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer than men, whereas rectal cancer is the opposite.
When men are diagnosed with colon cancer, they are more likely (53%) to develop it at a younger age than women (68 vs. 72 years).
Odds of cancer recurrence
According to the University of Michigan's Rogel Cancer Center, rectal cancer has about a 20% risk of local recurrence, opposed to about a 2% chance with colon cancer.
"The rectum doesn't have the same protective outer layer (called the serosa) as the colon, so it's easier for a tumor to break through and spread locally," says Dr. Karin Hardiman, surgical director at the Center. "That makes rectal cancer 10 times more likely than colon cancer to come back after treatment where it started."
Treatment
Treatment for colon cancer is typically more straightforward than treatment for rectal cancer, primarily due to the location of the colon versus the location of the rectum.
The colon is located in a more accessible area, so it is easier to reach in surgical procedures. The rectum, on the other hand, has other critical organs nearby, making treatment more challenging. Rectal cancer can impede essential bodily functions, such as bowel movements and urination, depending on the tumor's size and proximity to these organs.
Dr. Eric Dozois, a Mayo Clinic colon and rectal surgeon, says if colon cancer is caught early, surgery may be the only treatment that is necessary, but added that rectal cancer treatment may be a different story.
"Our approach to rectal cancer often involves more aggressive treatments that help prevent it from coming back," he said.
READ MORE | 'Twas the night before your colonoscopy: 5 tips to make it easier
Screening and early detection are key
Regardless of whether cancer is found in the colon or the rectum, the best chance at better health outcomes is detecting it early, before symptoms develop. A colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years beginning at age 45, however there are multiple options when it comes to screening-including some tests that can be done from the comfort of your home.
Your health care provider can discuss which options are available to you.
RELATED | New option for colorectal cancer screening: Which one is right for you
Learn more about screening recommendations, risk factors, plus signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer.
***
Original text here: https://preventcancer.org/article/colon-cancer-vs-rectal-cancer-whats-the-difference/
