USA TODAY

Gen Z is the most politically divided generation. Is this impacting their relationships and dating life? Here's what we know now. bit.ly/4lTFnCY

WASHINGTON – These days, it seems all Beth Gellman-Beer does is wait. First, she waited to see whether President Donald Trump would follow through on his promise to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. She's worked there for nearly two decades, helping prevent students from experiencing the bullying she faced growing up with disabilities. Then, in March, she and more than 1,300 of her coworkers were laid off, and she waited to see if a court would intervene. By May, a federal judge in Boston had reinstated her position and those of many of her colleagues. Now, she's in limbo again. On July 14, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to carry on with its massive Education Department layoffs while a lawsuit proceeds. An exception temporarily shielded her job. In the days following the order, Gellman-Beer and other fired workers have expressed disappointment with the decision, though most weren't surprised by it. They warned that the consequences some schools and students are already suffering after the layoffs may worsen. Key information that teachers rely on to make decisions has already been jeopardized. College financial aid could face more disruptions. And it's not clear the department has the staffing it needs to smoothly implement the education provisions of President Trump's major tax and spending law. Read more in USA TODAY: https://lnkd.in/gXijG2v7

Connie Sabir, 86, doesn’t want to be a burden. Her 65-year-old daughter, Miriam Sabir, said caring for her mother has been incredibly difficult, but she doesn’t want her mother to feel like a burden. Between them, these feelings have gone unspoken. “We have to remove the stigma of aging,” said Dr. Sanjay Shetty, MD, President of CenterWell. “I worry that we’ve created this idea of when you age, that you should just quietly deal with your own issues. We don’t ask that of any other population.” A recent survey found 2 out of 3 Americans prefer independence over longevity without self-sufficiency as they age. For those over 65, that desire increased to 78%. "I feel really sad about it," Connie Sabir said about her daughter caring for her. "I wish I could have lifted her burden.” #caregiving #aging #seniors #caregivers #seniorliving #seniorlife #assistedliving #mentalhealth #caring https://lnkd.in/gU4-Xbta for USA TODAY

Even about 20 years ago, Major League Soccer had no youth programming Today, there are 40,000 kids participating in its #mlsgo recreational program and almost 18,000 enrolled in its elite #mlsnext platform (raising to 40,000-plus with a new competition tier), which runs from the U13 to U19 levels. As of June 15, according to MLS, 93% of the players on U.S. youth national teams are coming from MLS NEXT. “A young player who begins to play the game and has a passion for it can see a direct pathway from youth all the way to a professional team,” says Alfonso Mondelo, MLS’ longtime technical director whom USA TODAY interviewed upon the 30th anniversary of MLS. “Now, in a lot of the markets, they have a professional team that they can go see and they can aspire to be part of." The league realizes, of course, the overall percentages of becoming a professional player are very small. It’s constantly seeking ways to get more kids access to the game. Where might your son or daughter fit into MLS’ youth ecosystem? Below are the opportunities it provides. Thanks to William Glenn Alex Zerkel Luis Robles and Kyle Albrecht for their help with this piece and continued cooperation with my sports parenting column. https://lnkd.in/eQKX4idt

Thrilled to have Wendy Naugle join my TeamGannett… Gannett taps former People editor-in-chief as executive editor of entertainment https://lnkd.in/en3nTCne

Are you nervous about taking time off at work? You're not alone. https://lnkd.in/eRifvqq5

#Disneyland turns 70 today. That’s a big milestone for anyone, but especially theme park fans. Not only was this #Disney’s first park, but it was the first modern-day theme park, and it remains a leader in the industry. Thank you Disney Legend Bob Gurr, Walt Disney Imagineering chief Bruce Vaughn, IAAPA chief Jakob Wahl and Defunctland creator Kevin Perjurer for walking us through some of its #history. #waltdisney #imagineering #themeparks #innovation https://lnkd.in/ecj4uMkx

In the past, the private equity world has been largely populated by ultra-rich investors, endowments and pension funds. That may be about to change. Retirement savers with 401(k) accounts are gaining access to the private investment market, which mostly pivots on privately held companies, rather than public ones. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, announced in June that it will offer a 401(k) target-date retirement fund that includes private investments, with a launch date in 2026. Another retirement giant, Empower, said in May it will offer private investments in some workplace accounts later this year. Other retirement plan providers have made similar moves. And the Trump Administration is expected to sign an executive order in coming days that would call for federal guidance on adding private investments to 401(k) plans. Here's what it all means. Featuring Robert Brokamp, CFP® of The Motley Fool, Keith Singer, Caleb Silver of Investopedia, and Tom Gahan of Procyon. https://lnkd.in/eMDtdWMi

Connie Francis, the 1950s and '60s pop star behind hits "Stupid Cupid" and "Who's Sorry Now," has died. She was 87.