A new Texas organization hopes to increase civic engagement among business leaders.

The Texas Business Leader Alliance officially launches today.

Anjanette Wyatt, CEO of Clinical Care Pharmacies in Houston and immediate past president of the American Pharmacists Association Foundation, said the group will focus on several key issues to increase work in the community.

"Economic development, health care, civic participation, cross-sector collaborations, business community partnerships," Wyatt outlined. "All this can really take us a long, long way. We're hoping to impact the communities and private sector by conducting research."

A recent survey of 500 Texas business leaders showed 97% agreed civic engagement is important, and 64% believe businesses should do more.

Twelve business leaders from across Texas make up the advisory board for the Alliance. Wyatt noted she assisted the community following Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. She emphasized members will work together to reach business owners across the state who need help.

"Businesses can make a huge difference in what happens in the community," Wyatt contended. "I think this is a great opportunity for us to prove as business owners that our visibility, our purpose of what's going on in America is very vital."

The survey also addressed the state of democracy in Texas. Among those surveyed, 90% of business leaders expressed concern about the spread of misinformation and 91% said a strong democracy where everyone can participate is crucial to a vibrant economy.


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Members of the League of Women Voters-Arkansas are collecting signatures to add a constitutional amendment to the November 2026 ballot.

The amendment would give voters a chance to approve or reject election laws passed by the legislature.

Bonnie Miller, president of the League of Women Voters-Arkansas and chair of the coalition Save AR Democracy, said lawmakers have been enacting restrictions since 2013, making it harder for the direct democracy process to work.

"We now have to read a ballot title out loud to somebody or watch them read the entire ballot title. We're not just talking about a sentence here. In some instances, this could be pages of text," Miller outlined. "We now have to see a photo ID, we have to tell them that petition fraud is a crime."

Arkansas lawmakers said the added measures would help prevent voter fraud. There have been five Arkansans convicted of election fraud over the past 20 years.

Earlier this year, the league filed a federal lawsuit attempting to strike down five bills passed by the legislature which it said are unconstitutional and restrict the work of canvassers. Miller pointed out if the amendment is passed in next year's election, any changes to voting laws must be approved by voters.

"It would keep them from being able to refer out amendments that would change the process," Miller explained. "It means that during (the) legislative session, if they pass any bills, that affects the process that those laws don't go into effect until they're on the ballot the following year. "

Volunteers with the "Ballot Measure for Ballot Measure" campaign must collect more than 90,000 signatures by July 3, 2026.

AARP Oregon has opened up nominations for its prestigious award for volunteerism.

For the Andrus Award for Community Service, the organization will select a person or couple, age 50 or older, performing services without pay in their communities.

Geneva Craig, a volunteer for AARP Oregon, won the award in 2019 for her work organizing educational sessions for her community around Medford in Southern Oregon. She said when she was a child, her mother taught her to volunteer by supporting their sick neighbors.

"There's no age group where you can say, 'Oh, I don't have a skill, I don't have a talent,'" Craig emphasized. "You have something to offer, if only to give some support and let somebody know you care."

Oregonians do a lot of volunteering. Data from 2023 show nearly 36% of Oregonians formally volunteered through organizations, about eight points higher than the national average.

Research shows volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anxiety and depression, while making people feel more connected and happier. Craig added it is important that volunteers inspire others.

"I'm happy because I'm seeing the rise in people who are stepping back out and offering to volunteer," Craig explained. "I tried to let them know, we're not going to work you to death, OK? This is teamwork."

The deadline for Andrus Award nominations is Sept. 1. The winner receives $1,000 to donate to a nonprofit of their choosing.

Eight Wisconsin cities, including four rural communities, will receive improvements to help make their communities more livable. Eleven grantees collectively received more than $100,000 in funds to implement quick-action projects this year through AARP Wisconsin's Community Challenge.

Jennifer Stephany, executive director with Creative Downtown Appleton Inc., is a past recipient that used the funds to install a seasonal "parklet" - or mobile patio - in an area that lacked these amenities. She said the aluminum parklet is handicap accessible and includes three tables and six chairs, with planters and herbs for public use.

"So it's rosemary and basil, and we even had some kale in there, and we take care of watering it throughout the summer, and residents can just come down and pick the fresh herbs," she explained.

Stephany worked with the City of Appleton to develop a citywide policy for parklets, adding that the grant funds were instrumental given the funding constraints organizations like hers face.

Darren Wasniewski, senior associate state director for community outreach, AARP Wisconsin, noted the funds are designated for immediate actions to improve quality and accessibility for residents of all ages and abilities, with projects to be completed by December 15. He said these projects often spark community interest in similar initiatives to meet local needs.

As Wasniewski put it, "Not all of our grantees need to go on and change city policy, but it's always great when they can be used as that catalyst to have these public discussions about, 'Is there something that we can change to make the community livable for all?'"

Some of this year's AARP-funded projects include handicap accessibility improvements to public spaces, home repairs for seniors, digital access and literacy expansion, and housing alternatives. The full list of 2025 grant recipients is on AARP's website.