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Georgia's Health Warning: New Report Reveals Troubling Gaps in Care and Well-Being

How healthy is Georgia? A new report from Augusta University reveals some troubling answers, with the state ranking among the nation's poorest performers in several important measures of health and well-being. The 2026 Healthy Georgia: Our State of Public Health report, released by Augusta University's School of Public Health, examines 31 health indicators, offering a comprehensive picture of the challenges facing residents across the state. Biplab Datta, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health Management, Economics, and Policy and the report's lead analyst, identifies healthcare affordability, kidney disease, loneliness and substance misuse as particularly concerning issues. View his profile A State Facing Serious Health Challenges Among the report's findings, Georgia ranks 48th in healthcare affordability, seventh highest in kidney disease prevalence and second highest in loneliness. The state also faces significant challenges involving mental health, opioid misuse and access to dental care. Datta emphasized that affordability and social isolation deserve particular attention because of their consequences for individual and community health. The findings also reveal a persistent divide between rural and urban communities. Rural Georgians experience higher rates of cigarette smoking, vaping, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Beyond the Numbers The report highlights the interconnected nature of Georgia's public health challenges. Limited access to affordable care, geographic disparities and social isolation can complicate efforts to improve health outcomes. While Georgia has maintained comparatively low rates of heavy drinking and made progress on annual wellness visits, the findings suggest that substantial work remains to address health inequalities. Now in its fifth edition, the Healthy Georgia Report provides policymakers, health professionals and community leaders with data to guide decisions about prevention, access to care and public health priorities. “Healthcare affordability and dental visit rates were persistently lower in Georgia in the last five years,” Datta said. “Prevalence of kidney disease has been increasing nationally, but the gap between Georgia and the rest of the nation remains persistent. While some declining trends in child asthma have been observed, Georgia prevalence remained persistently higher than the national and regional averages.” An Expert Voice on Public Health As Georgia confronts rising healthcare costs, rural health disparities and growing concerns about mental well-being, Datta offers valuable expertise on the economic and policy dimensions of public health. His work provides important context for journalists examining healthcare affordability, chronic disease, health disparities and the challenges facing communities across Georgia. Biplab Datta, PhD, is available to speak with media about the findings of the 2026 Healthy Georgia Report and their implications for the state's public health priorities. To connect with Datta or arrange an interview, click on his profile below.

Can Immune Cells Smell Cancer? Augusta University Researcher Wins $3.66 Million NIH Award to Find Out

What if the same types of receptors that allow us to detect smells could also help our immune systems fight cancer? That's the intriguing question driving new research at Augusta University's Medical College of Georgia, where scientist Marco Orecchioni, PhD, has received a prestigious $3.66 million NIH Director's New Innovator Award to investigate a potentially groundbreaking approach to cancer treatment. The five-year award, announced in a recent Augusta University Jagwire article, will support Orecchioni's project, Harnessing Myeloid Olfactory Receptors to Reprogram Tumor Immunity. Orecchioni, an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and researcher with the Immunology Center of Georgia, previously discovered that olfactory receptors, traditionally associated with the sense of smell, are also present on immune cells called macrophages and monocytes. These receptors can detect chemical signals within the body and influence inflammation and disease progression. Now, his team wants to determine whether they can also influence how immune cells respond to cancer. Could These Receptors Help Fight Melanoma? The research will focus on melanoma, investigating whether olfactory receptors can shift immune cells toward fighting tumors rather than supporting their growth. The project will also explore whether these receptors influence patients' responses to immunotherapy, potentially identifying new targets for cancer treatment. Orecchioni explained the promise of the research: "We have preliminary data suggesting that one olfactory receptor may help drive beneficial immune responses against melanoma." The NIH Director's New Innovator Award recognizes exceptionally creative, high-impact research that challenges conventional scientific approaches. Klaus Ley, MD, founding co-director of the Immunology Center of Georgia, emphasized the significance of the recognition. "This is an amazing achievement because very few scientists receive a DP2 award." Since joining Augusta University in 2023, Orecchioni has earned recognition for his work in immunology, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. His research now extends those discoveries into cancer biology, opening an exciting new direction in understanding how the immune system interacts with tumors. While the research is still in its early stages, its potential implications for melanoma and immunotherapy make it an important area to watch. For journalists covering cancer research, immunotherapy, innovative medical discoveries and the future of precision medicine, Orecchioni offers a fascinating perspective on an unconventional approach to fighting cancer. If you're interested in speaking with Dr. Marco Orecchioni about cancer immunotherapy, melanoma, immune cell biology and his NIH-funded research, contact AU's External Communications Team mediarelations@augusta.edu to arrange an interview today.

Federal Reserve Decision Puts Borrowing Costs and Inflation in Focus

The Federal Reserve’s October 27–28 meeting comes as Americans continue to face persistent inflation and costly borrowing. Policymakers are widely expected to leave the benchmark interest rate unchanged when they announce their decision Wednesday, October 28. However, an anticipated pause does not settle the question of whether further increases will be needed. Investors and businesses will closely watch the Fed’s explanation for clues about its next steps. The decision reflects a difficult balance. Higher interest rates can help restrain inflation by discouraging borrowing and spending, but they can also slow business expansion, reduce hiring and make major purchases harder to afford. Keeping rates elevated gives those effects more time to work through the economy. Raising them further could add pressure if households and employers are already becoming more cautious. For consumers, the implications reach beyond financial markets. Credit card balances, auto financing and business loans can remain expensive when borrowing costs stay high. Mortgage rates also respond to broader market expectations about inflation and future policy. This week’s announcement will therefore matter both for the immediate rate decision and for what it suggests about the path toward more affordable credit. 

Need Election Day Experts? We've Got 'Em!

As voters head to the polls, University of Rochester political scientists James Druckman and Gerald Gamm are available to help journalists make sense of the results — and what they could mean for American democracy, Congress, political parties, and the polarized electorate. James Druckman: Understanding partisanship and the American electorate Druckman is a leading scholar of political partisanship and its effects on American democracy. He can help reporters interpret voter behavior, identify emerging trends, and understand what election results reveal about the deepening divide between Democrats and Republicans. His 2024 book, Partisan Hostility and American Democracy: Explaining Political Divisions and When They Matter (University of Chicago Press), has been called a “stand out” among the scholarship examining political division. New York Times columnist Thomas Edsall has highlighted Druckman among the political scientists “working on getting us to hate one another less.” Druckman is available for interviews before, during, and after Election Day to discuss voting trends, partisan dynamics, and the implications for American democracy. Connect with him by clicking on his profile. Gerald Gamm: What election results mean for Congress and governing A political scientist and historian, Gamm studies American politics, political development, legislatures, political parties, and state and local government. His expertise is particularly relevant to questions about the balance of power in Congress and statehouses, how political parties respond to shifting electoral fortunes, and what election outcomes mean for governing. Gamm is a co-author of Steering the Senate (Cambridge University Press, 2025), a study of institutional leadership and capacity on Capitol Hill that has been described as “essential reading” for anyone concerned about the future of congressional leadership. He is available for interviews before, during, and after Election Day to provide context on emerging political trends, election outcomes, and their implications for Congress and the broader political landscape. Connect with Gamm by clicking on his profile.

Reported Iranian Threats Prompt U.S. Embassy Precautions

Reported threats against American personnel are prompting new precautions at U.S. diplomatic posts in the Middle East. The State Department is reducing staffing at embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates following intelligence warnings about increased Iranian efforts to target Americans. The embassies remain open under restricted operations, and the staffing changes differ from the ordered departure of nonessential personnel and families from Saudi Arabia. The precautions underscore the challenges of maintaining a diplomatic presence during a regional conflict. Embassies support communication with foreign governments, assist American citizens and provide information that helps guide U.S. policy. Reducing staff can limit personnel’s exposure to danger, but it also requires officials to reassess which activities can safely continue. Reported threats involving Iran-backed Houthi militants add another layer of complexity to those security decisions. The developments also raise questions about how Washington can protect its personnel while preserving channels for negotiation. U.S. officials have denied that the staffing reductions are connected to potential new American and Israeli strikes against Iran. The precautions nevertheless illustrate how intelligence warnings can affect diplomatic operations before an attack occurs—and how regional tensions can place Americans serving abroad at risk. 

ExpertSpotlight: From Ancient Spirits to Modern Scares: The Fascinating History of Halloween!

Every October, neighborhoods transform into haunted landscapes, pumpkins glow on front porches, and children dress as everything from witches to superheroes. But behind the costumes, candy and spooky decorations lies a celebration with roots stretching back more than 2,000 years. Halloween's origins are commonly traced to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the transition from the harvest season into winter. It was a time associated with the supernatural, when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to grow especially thin. Over the centuries, Celtic traditions intersected with Christian observances, including All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. The evening before All Saints' Day became known as All Hallows' Eve — eventually shortened to Halloween. And those glowing jack-o'-lanterns? They weren't always pumpkins! In Ireland and Scotland, people traditionally carved turnips and other root vegetables. Pumpkins became the preferred choice as Halloween customs evolved in North America. Trick-or-treating, elaborate costumes and haunted attractions developed through a combination of older traditions and more recent community celebrations, transforming Halloween into the cultural phenomenon we know today. But Halloween is more than an excuse to eat too much chocolate. Its evolution offers a fascinating window into how societies understand death, preserve folklore, confront fear and pass traditions from one generation to the next. For journalists looking to explore the history, folklore, psychology or cultural significance of Halloween, university experts in history, anthropology, religious studies and popular culture can offer fascinating perspectives on why we love being scared — and how an ancient seasonal observance became a modern celebration. This Halloween, there's a lot more to uncover than what's hiding behind that haunted-house door! Looking for help to bring the history and mystery of Halloween to life? Connect with an ExpertFile expert today for interviews, commentary and a deeper look at the traditions behind the tricks and treats. Visit all of our experts www.expertfile.com

Inflation Puts Household Budgets—and Candidates—Under Pressure

Inflation is keeping affordability at the center of American life as voters prepare for the November 3 midterm elections. Consumer prices rose 3.7% over the year ending in September, with gasoline and other everyday expenses adding pressure to household budgets. For families already adjusting their spending, persistent price increases can mean difficult decisions about groceries, transportation and discretionary purchases. Those pressures also create political challenges. President Donald Trump and Republican candidates are defending their economic record, while Democrats argue that the administration’s policies have made everyday life more expensive. Tariffs and energy disruptions associated with the Iran conflict have become central points of debate. Although growth and employment remain important measures of economic performance, voters often judge the economy through the expenses they encounter most frequently. The debate highlights a distinction that can become lost in campaign messaging: slowing inflation means prices are rising more slowly, rather than returning to earlier levels. Families may continue feeling financial strain even when economic indicators improve. As candidates offer competing solutions, the larger question is which policies can improve purchasing power while supporting employment and economic stability. The election will test how strongly Americans connect those daily financial pressures to the leaders seeking their votes. 

Is Government Corruption Becoming a Defining Issue in the Midterm Elections?

With the U.S. midterm elections just days away, concerns about government corruption are emerging as an important issue for voters, raising questions about how Americans define corruption, whom they hold responsible and how those perceptions could influence their decisions at the ballot box. In an Oct. 26 interview featured on NPR's All Things Considered, Ray La Raja, professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and co-director of the UMass Amherst Poll, discussed growing public concern about corruption and the competing political narratives surrounding the Trump administration's efforts to combat fraud. The segment, The Trump Administration Is Taking on Fraud Ahead of the Midterm Elections, reported by NPR's Emily Feng, examined President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance's efforts to make government fraud and abuse a central policy focus ahead of the elections. La Raja, who surveyed Americans about corruption in September, found widespread concern about the issue, consistent with other national polling showing that nearly nine in ten Americans are worried about government corruption. "I believe this is pretty much off the charts," La Raja told NPR, emphasizing the extent of public concern. He also highlighted the connection between corruption and the economic issues that traditionally motivate voters."But it's especially powerful when people are already upset about the issue that usually motivates voters, and that's the economy." View his profile His research reveals important differences in how Democrats and Republicans perceive the problem. While Democrats overwhelmingly identify the presidency as a source of corruption, Republicans tend to view corruption as a more systemic problem involving government bureaucracy and fraudulent claims against federal programs. His research offers valuable insight into how political messaging, public trust, economic anxiety and partisan perceptions intersect during a consequential election. An expert in American politics, elections, polling, political parties, campaign finance and political reform, La Raja brings extensive research experience to questions about voter attitudes, democratic accountability and the forces influencing political participation. With the midterm elections approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Ray La Raja is available to speak with journalists seeking expert analysis of government corruption, voter concerns, political messaging, public opinion and the issues shaping the 2026 elections. To arrange an interview with La Raja, click on his ExpertFile profile below.