(Oranjestad)— Russ and Colleen Sims honored as Goodwill Ambassador for 25 years of visiting Aruba!

Aruba Today is delighted to share the honoring of Russ and Colleen Sims as Goodwill Ambassadors for 25 years of dedicated love for the island.

The Aruba Tourism Authority surprised them with a beautiful framed certificate. “It was awesome that our dear friend, Linda Garcia pinned Aruba pins on us,” they shared.

Making this occasion extra special is that their son Russell Sims, daughter in-law Heather, and grandson Wright, were there to share this moment. Wright is the family’s 4th generation visitor to the island. Colleen’s father, Robert A. Woelkers, was the original Aruba lover who started the tradition of yearly family vacations to Aruba.

Congratulations to the Russ and Colleen and thank you for cherishing our home like we do!

(Oranjestad)—Skipp and Winnie started coming to Aruba in 1984 and since then they came back once every year. After a few years, it turned to two times per year and now they come three times per year! In total, they visited Aruba over 100 times.

They love the people and throughout the years have brought their family and friends to the island. Skipp has had garage for 62 years and still works every day. Winnie was a school teacher for 35 years and now works as a volunteer in their community.

Throughout the years they met a lot of people on the island and got to know the tourist area better, and saw the development of Aruba. They are grateful that Aruba has welcomed them with open arms and we for sure as just as happy that Skipp and Winnie has chosen our home for the past 42 years!

ST. LOUIS – Inside the climate-controlled corridors of the Danforth Plant Science Center, the future of the American dinner plate is being rewritten. While the outside world grapples with record-breaking heatwaves and unpredictable rainfall, a team of researchers has announced a breakthrough that could ensure the survival of the country’s most essential fruits and vegetables.

The project, colloquially known as “Future-Proofing,” represents a monumental shift in agricultural science. For decades, the goal of industrial farming was “yield at all costs.” Today, the mission has shifted toward resilience.

“We are essentially teaching plants how to handle stress,” says Dr. Elena Rodriguez, the lead geneticist on the project. “It’s not just about surviving a heatwave; it’s about thriving in a world where the rules of nature are changing every single week.”

The results, published this week, are staggering. Experimental batches of tomatoes and bell peppers—two of the most climate-sensitive crops—were able to maintain their nutritional profile and flavor despite being grown in soil with 30% less water and temperatures 10 degrees higher than their natural limit.

The implications for the U.S. economy are profound. Supply chain disruptions during the early 2020s proved how fragile the global food network can be. By creating crops that can grow in a wider variety of domestic climates, the U.S. can reduce its reliance on long-haul imports and volatile foreign markets.

Skeptics point to the high cost of the initial seed technology and the potential for “biological monopolies” if the patents are held by a few large corporations. However, the research team has pledged to work with land-grant universities to ensure the technology remains accessible to independent growers.

High health care costs, especially compared to peer nations, represent a significant portion of many Americans’ strained budgets, prompting some to choose to drive less to save on gas, cut back on electricity and borrow money to make ends meet.

Gathered from responses by 20,000 participants last year, the West Health-Gallup Center survey estimates more than 82 million Americans resorted to at least one sacrifice to pay medical bills.

The finding comes amid continued concerns about the rising cost of living, expected to once again be a key issue when voters head to the polls in November for midterm elections.

Another survey of 5,660 Americans at the end of 2025 from West Health found many Americans are delaying medical treatments and surgical procedures because of exorbitant healthcare costs.

The public health program aimed at aiding low-income households was shielding millions from higher health insurance costs.

The United States does not have a universal public health insurance system comparable to France and other developed countries.

While the U.S. spends more than other developed countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, it ranks lower on many indicators including life expectancy.

March has long been a month dedicated to reflecting on the glass ceilings shattered by the women of our past. However, as Women’s History Month 2026 unfolds, a new narrative is taking center stage across the United States. This year’s theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” shifts the lens from historical milestones to the urgent, innovative work being done by women today to ensure a livable planet for the generations of tomorrow.

From the high-tech corridors of Silicon Valley to the sprawling farmlands of the Midwest, women are no longer just participating in the sustainability movement; they are its primary architects. This week, community leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs are being honored for their roles in transforming how America produces energy, manages waste, and feeds its citizens.

“Sustainability isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for community health,” Jenkins stated during a keynote address at a regional Women’s History Month gala this morning. “Women have always been the stewards of their households. Now, we are simply scaling that stewardship to protect our shared home—the earth.”

The impact of such grassroots efforts is profound. By integrating sustainable practices into the local economy, these leaders are proving that environmentalism and economic growth can go hand-in-hand.

“We look at the lifecycle of a product differently,” Rodriguez explains. “It’s not just about how it’s used today, but where it lives fifty years from now.”

In the corporate sector, the shift is just as palpable. According to recent 2026 labor data, women-led startups in the “Clean Tech” sector have seen a 40% increase in venture capital funding over the last two years. These businesses are focusing on everything from residential solar efficiency to AI-driven water conservation tools. By centering sustainability in their business models, these entrepreneurs are redefining what it means to be a “successful” American company in the 21st century.

In Los Angeles today, the “Youth for Tomorrow” initiative hosted a city-wide workshop where girls worked alongside female architects to design “sponge city” concepts—urban layouts designed to absorb and reuse rainwater. These programs are vital, as they provide young women with visible role models in fields where they have historically been underrepresented.

The National Women’s History Alliance emphasizes that by empowering young girls to see themselves as problem-solvers and environmental stewards, we are securing the leadership pipeline for decades to come. The message is clear: the future is not just something that happens to us; it is something we actively build.

Their work is a testament to the fact that sustainability is more than just “going green.” It is about social equity, economic resilience, and the courage to rethink status quo systems. As this month of recognition continues, the stories of these pioneers offer a beacon of hope. They remind us that while the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity are great, the ingenuity and determination of women are greater.