Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc., a Portland, Ore., establishment, is expanding its Feb. 19, 2026, recall of frozen not ready-to-eat (NRTE) chicken products that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically glass.
As colorectal cancer continues to rise—particularly among adults under 50—awareness and early action have never been more important. In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March, Jefferson Health–East colon and rectal surgeons Dr. Valerie Bauer and Dr. Thaer Obaid share ten essential facts every adult should know. From understanding risk factors and screening guidelines to recognizing subtle warning signs, these insights highlight how prevention and early detection can save lives. (Drs. Bauer and Obaid are available for press interviews.)
1. Colon cancer is highly preventable because it often develops slowly from precancerous polyps that can be removed during screening.
2. Early detection dramatically improves survival. When caught early, the five-year survival rate is about 90 percent. Screening saves lives.
3. Colon cancer starts with zero noticeable symptoms. Screening can detect precancerous changes or early-stage cancer before symptoms appear.
4. Conditions like rectal bleeding, blood in stool, persistent bowel changes, unexplained weight loss, and ongoing abdominal pain could be potential symptoms of existing colon cancer and should not be ignored.
5. While screening has reduced cases in older adults, rates are increasing in adults under 50.
6. Average-risk adults are recommended to begin screening at age 45.
7. Family history significantly increases risk. If a first-degree relative had colorectal cancer, screening may need to start earlier than age 45.
8. Lifestyle plays a major role. Risk increases with high red or processed meat intake, low fiber diet, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.
9. Contrary to popular belief, a colonoscopy is a very common procedure done under sedation with very little to no discomfort. Colonoscopies can diagnose, treat, and prevent colon cancer, saving lives.
10. There are multiple screening options for colon cancer. Options include stool-based tests (such as FIT or stool DNA tests), colonoscopy, and CT colonography. The best test is the one that gets done.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for beef jerky products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The products may contain soy lecithin, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.
New Jersey American Water today announced that it invested more than $781 million in water and wastewater system improvements across the Garden State in 2025 – a significant increase from the approximately $520 million invested in 2024. This year-over-year growth reflects the company’s commitment to delivering safe, clean, reliable and affordable water service to more than 190 communities across New Jersey, while proactively upgrading the systems customers depend on every day.
“Our $781 million investment isn’t just a number, it’s about staying ahead of aging infrastructure, so our customers don’t have to think twice about the water coming from their tap,” said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. “Even as we modernize and expand our footprint, we continue to upgrade pipes, treatment technology and service lines all while keeping water about a penny per gallon and bills well under one percent of median household income.”
McDonough added that in addition to helping the company continue to provide safe, clean, reliable service for customers, this level of investment contributed to more than 12,490 jobs statewide.
Continue reading “New Jersey American Water Invests Over $781 Million in 2025 Statewide”
Haddonfield, NJ – Garden State Wine Growers Association – a coalition of 60+ New Jersey wineries and vineyards supporting the Garden State’s wine industry through information, resources, and advocacy.
The NJ wine community publishes a Passport to New Jersey Wine Country booklet, which includes over 60 wineries in the Garden State to visit and enjoy.
The new and improved companion digital passport offers a streamlined, user-friendly experience, allowing participants to check in at all participating wineries using location services or by submitting a selfie taken on-site. This updated user experience, provided by LoyalBrew LLC, will allow for more accurate check-ins and create a more interactive experience for visitors tracking their progress throughout the New Jersey Wine Country.
Continue reading “The Garden State Wine Growers Association Announces Their New Digital Passport Program”
If you’re planning to have surgery, or if you know you may need future hospital care, visit Medicare.gov/care-compare to compare the quality of hospitals in your area.
Look at a hospital’s overall and patient star ratings. The overall rating is based on how well a hospital performs across different areas of quality, like safety of care or treating heart attacks. The patient star ratings measure patient experience with their hospital care.
Compare a hospital’s performance against national averages for patient experiences, timely and effective care, and complications.
| The 2026 Maryland Guide to Fishing and Crabbing is now available online and in print. The guide includes everything you need to know about fishing and crabbing in Maryland in 2026, including rules, license information, tips, free fishing opportunities, and more. Physical guides are available at your local tackle shop and up-to-date regulations and information are live online: View the rules on the eRegulations website. Download a PDF version of the guide |
| Fishing LicensesDo you have a fishing license? Purchase or renew your license online for 365 days of Maryland fishing. Fishing licenses, as well as tackle, boat, and marine fuel purchases, fund DNR’s fish conservation work and programs that promote recreational fishing opportunities. |
By Teri Willey
Universities may look like quiet enclaves of students and stately buildings, but their labs are some of the most productive engines of innovation in the country. The discoveries made there ripple far beyond campus — improving medical care, advancing national security, and launching entire industries.
That pathway from lab to marketplace exists because of an effective law: the Bayh-Dole Act.
Co-sponsored by former Indiana senator Birch Bayh and Robert Dole of Kansas, the law gives universities the ability — and aligns their interests with potential private sector partners — to protect and license inventions made with federal research funding. The results are all around us. Google’s search algorithm, key cryptocurrency technologies, and several breakthrough cancer medicines all trace back to federally-funded research.
Continue reading “America Loses If Washington Takes University Royalties”
Name of Product: Gourmia Pressure Cookers
Hazard: The pressure cookers pose a risk of serious injury due to burn hazards.
Consumer Action: CPSC urges consumers to stop using the pressure cookers immediately and dispose of them. Do not sell or give away these hazardous pressure cookers.
Product Safety Warning Date: February 24, 2026
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Gourmia Pressure Cookers because they pose a risk of serious injury due to burn hazards. The lid on the pressure cooker can open while it is still pressurized, causing hot contents to spray out, resulting in severe second degree burn injuries to consumers. Most of these pressure cookers were sold at Best Buy.
Continue reading “CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Gourmia Pressure Cookers”
Visit Philly staff and influencers at the launch of Philly First at Victory Brewing Company.
Coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary, Victory Brewing Company and Visit Philadelphia partnered to launch Philly First, a celebratory brew highlighting the many firsts that happened in Philadelphia.
Both organizations are also marking their 30th anniversaries this year.
The beer debuted on 215 Day at Victory Brewing Company locations on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and in Downingtown. Look for a broader rollout throughout the region in the coming weeks.