More than 250 hospitals nationwide have signed a new voluntary pledge from the Department of Health and Human Services aimed at improving the food served to patients.

The hospitals are committing to reducing ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks, sodium and added sugars while offering more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and minimally processed proteins.

The pledge also encourages hospitals to provide healthier options for employees and visitors, along with nutrition education that patients can use after they return home.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is urging more hospitals to join.

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Hospitals have a responsibility to promote health in every part of patient care, including the food they serve, said Secretary Kennedy. More than 250 hospitals are taking action to improve nutrition for their patients, staff, and communities. I am calling on every hospital in America to join them, sign the pledge, and help make healthy food a standard part of health care.

HHS said it started inviting hospitals nationwide to serve healthier meals that align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The guidelines, published every five years, place greater emphasis on meat and fat sources, such as butter, and less on whole grains and plant-based proteins, such as beans. The latest guidelines were published in January.

The report advises adults to consume 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. For example, a 200-pound person should eat between 109 and 146 grams of protein each day. Previous recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration for a person that weight were about 73 grams.

RELATED STORY | New US dietary guidelines urge more protein, fewer ultraprocessed foods

The new guidelines also put more emphasis on whole foods unprepared fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy and less on ultraprocessed and prepackaged items. The guidelines help shape policy and influence menus for school lunches, Meals on Wheels and other federally funded food programs.

Reducing ultraprocessed foods has widespread support, but some parts of the new guidelines have faced criticism notably the potential increase in saturated fat consumption, which scientists say can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Kennedys department largely ignored a panel of experts who favored plant-based proteins such as beans and lentils. However, the new guidelines retain the recommendation to limit saturated fat to no more than 10% of daily calories.

Locations for the NCAA mens and womens Final Fours are set through 2031, but the organization is now considering potential host cities for 2032 through 2036.

The list of potential host locations includes several familiar cities.

For the mens Final Four, Denver; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Kansas; Las Vegas; Nashville, Tennessee; and New Orleans are being considered for the five available spots.

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Among them, Houston, Indianapolis and New Orleans have frequently hosted the mens Final Four. Indianapolis has been the most frequent host in recent decades, staging the national semifinals and championship game nine times since 1991.

New Orleans has hosted the event six times, most recently in 2022. Houston has hosted the Final Four four times.

With more cities opening domed stadiums for NFL teams, the potential pool of Final Four hosts is expanding.

Denver last hosted a Final Four in 1990, one of the last to be played outside a major domed stadium. Las Vegas is scheduled to host its first Final Four in 2028. Nashville has never hosted the event. Kansas City was once a frequent stop for the Final Four, hosting it 10 times, but only once in the past 61 years.

The seven cities being considered for the womens Final Four are Detroit, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Phoenix and San Antonio. All seven have domed stadiums in their respective metropolitan areas.

Unlike the mens Final Four, which is played in large domed stadiums, the womens Final Four has mostly been held in NBA or NHL arenas. Columbus Nationwide Arena will host the event in 2027, but large domed stadiums will host the Final Four in 2028 and 2029.

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The NCAA suggests it is possible that the mens and womens Final Fours could share a venue in some years.

The strong interest in hosting the Womens Final Four reflects the championships stature as one of the premier events in sports, and the committee is grateful to every city that participated in the bid process, said Liz Darger, senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Brigham Young and chair of the Division I Womens Basketball Committee. The finalists selected to date demonstrated the infrastructure, competition venues, hotel accommodations and community support needed to deliver an exceptional championship experience. They also offer the committee an opportunity to thoughtfully assess how each city can support the Womens Final Fours continued growth, in areas such as competition venue options, and evolving future needs.

If youve shopped for Halloween candy, costumes or decorations this season, youve probably noticed just how expensive celebrating the spookiest holiday of the year has become. If Halloween prices are giving you a scare, youre not alone.

A new survey from WalletHub found that 67% of U.S. consumers believe Halloween has become too expensive. The survey also found that 71% expect to spend less on Halloween this year than they did last year.

Inflation and economic uncertainty are driving Americans concerns about Halloween spending, the survey found.

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The National Retail Federation said the typical U.S. consumer is expected to spend about $115 on Halloween this year, roughly $1 more than last year. But spending about the same amount might not go as far as it did a year ago.

According to the latest consumer price index, candy prices have surged 7.7% over the past year. The National Retail Federation found that 74% of U.S. consumers plan to spend money on Halloween this year. Among them, 96% plan to spend money on candy.

WalletHub found that only about 4 in 10 consumers are setting a budget for Halloween spending.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said concerns about Halloween spending could signal broader worries heading into the Christmas shopping season.

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Consumers are a bit apprehensive about Halloween this year not because theyre especially scared of spooky costumes and haunted houses, but rather because their financial fears are bubbling to the surface. Halloween is a major spending occasion in its own right, and its just the appetizer for end-of-year holidays, Lupo said. Anxiety about affordability is understandable, and its no doubt contributing to 71% of people planning to spend less on Halloween this year, despite inflation already shrinking purchasing power.

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Subtropical Storm Josephine formed in the Atlantic Ocean late Wednesday and is expected to strengthen, producing hurricane-force winds by Thursday evening.

However, Josephine is expected to lose its tropical characteristics as it merges with a cold front over the North Atlantic.

The combination will result in an unusually large storm. Tropical storm-force winds already extend more than 400 miles from the storms center, with some reaching the coasts of Massachusetts and Nova Scotia.

As the storm moves north, more areas of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland could experience high winds.

Although the New England coast is not under any tropical storm warnings, the National Weather Service has issued gale warnings because of the strong winds.

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Josephine is the 10th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which has been relatively quiet. Only one system has become a hurricane. Earlier this month, Hurricane Isaias became the first hurricane to make direct landfall in the United States in more than two years when it came ashore as a Category 2 storm.

Isaias reached Category 4 strength at its peak before weakening ahead of landfall. At least six deaths were tied to the hurricane.

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Less than two weeks before what could be a pivotal U.S. Senate race, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed held a televised Wednesday, with polling showing a deadlocked contest.

The cost of living

El-Sayed said would back a full senate resolution to end the war in Iran, which he said is driving increases in costs of living.

"We need a war powers resolution rather than a Senator who's going to stand hip to hip with Donald Trump on this war that made no sense when it started, and certainly makes no sense now."

Rogers said more U.S. energy development would help lower costs for Michiganders.

On tariffs

"I have stepped back and said 'maybe these Canadian tariffs were not well thought through,' mainly because of the interaction between our automobile companies and Canada when it comes to just-in-time manufacturing," Rogers said. "You might want to send the guy back who can actually get the meeting to get these things worked out. If it's good for Michican I'm going to be for it, if it's bad for Michigan I'm going to be against it."

"I think we need to use tariffs specifically around how we can protect certain automotive opportunities, opportunities for growth and jobs that we actually need, rather than this haphazard approach," El-Sayed said.

Iran and national security

"The consequences of this war are that you're paying nearly $5 in gas. You're paying more in groceries because of the price of diesel. He has cheerlead this war all along because he stands hip to hip with Donald Trump." El-Sayed said.

Rogers warned that Iran would continue to work toward nuclear capability.

"You want to pay $8 a gallon for gas? Let Iran get a nuclear weapon. You lose control of that whole region," he said.

The costs of healthcare

Candidates were asked whether they supported expansion, modification or rollbacks of Affordable Care Act healthcare policies.

El-Sayed, who has campaigned on the deployment of Medicare for All, said he "certainly" supported expansion of the program.

He said Rogers' record on prescription drug prices would not be affordable.

"We cannot afford to have a United States Senator who is in bed with big pharma," El-Sayed said.

Rogers said a Medicare for All program would require $7 trillion a year in new taxes on families.

"It needs reform," Rogers said.

Strengthening Social Security

"It's got to be bipartisan," Rogers said of any policies that touch the program.

He said he would support a plan that would target $500 billion in fraud said to be associated with the program.

"I think we need to scrap the cap," El-Sayed said, referring to a ceiling on income above which Social Security taxes are no longer assessed.

He warned Republicans would seek to use investigations into fraud to privatize the Social Security program.

Federal voter ID laws

Moderators asked the candidates if they would support or oppose legislation that may impose federal voter identification requirements.

"This is about voter suppression," El-Sayed said. He did not directly answer the question. "We deserve the right to vote. Nobody should take that away from you."

"I think it's very reasonable and rational to ask for a voter ID," Rogers said.

Are you in favor of expanding the U.S Supreme Court?

Moderators asked the yes-or-no question to both candidates.

Rogers: No.

El-Sayed: Yes, but fairly.

WATCH | Talking to voters ahead of Michigan's closely-watched Senate midterm showdown

Talking to voters ahead of Michigan's closely-watched Senate midterm showdown

El-Sayed is vying to become the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Senate. Rogers is hoping to become the first Republican to represent Michigan in the Senate since Spencer Abraham, who lost his reelection bid in 2000. Democrats have won nine consecutive U.S. Senate races in Michigan.

Although Democrats have maintained control of both of Michigans U.S. Senate seats, the state is considered a key battleground. President Donald Trump has won Michigan twice, demonstrating Republicans can compete statewide.

The debate was moderated by Scripps News Group Detroit Editorial Director Chuck Stokes, along with Detroit-based anchors Carolyn Clifford and Alicia Smith.

A Marist poll released Wednesday showed El-Sayed leading Rogers 50% to 48%, a difference within the polls margin of error. The poll also found both candidates had high unfavorable ratings. Forty-eight percent of likely voters viewed El-Sayed unfavorably, while 52% had an unfavorable view of Rogers.

RELATED STORY | Abdul El-Sayed emphasizes Muslim faith after Trump calls him a jihadist

The poll also indicated many Michigan families are struggling more financially than they were a year ago. Forty-three percent of likely voters said they were worse off financially, compared with 16% who said they were better off.

El-Sayeds faith has come under attack during his campaign to become the countrys first Muslim U.S. senator. Republicans have sought to portray the Democratic nominee as sympathetic to interests connected to Islamic terrorism.

Last week, Trump referred to El-Sayed as Mohammed and falsely called the former public health official a jihadist.

Over the weekend, El-Sayed denounced the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic political movement founded in Egypt in 1928.

RELATED STORY | Democrats fear slippage with Black voters makes Michigan Senate race feel far closer than it should

Meanwhile, El-Sayed has sought to tie Rogers to many of Trumps policies, including tariffs and the war in Iran. Rogers, a former member of the U.S. House, has at times sought to distance himself from some of Trumps more divisive policies.