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October 17, 2026   |   5 min read

with Joi-Marie McKenzie   Happy October! If you’re like me and prefer to bring your lunch to work, you might be in need of some inspo. This meal-prep recipe, which comes with loads of variations, is packed with fiber and protein.

On the agenda: Police picked him up at 10 for walking home alone. At 21, he says free-range parenting gave him freedom. Men are lining up for a new on-the-go blood test that measures testosterone. Where Kelly Clarkson went wrong in her feud with a Brooklyn toy shop.  This city in Washington had everything Napa Valley offers, with fewer crowds and a lower price tag. But first:  The fall pinch.

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Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI DISPATCH Parenting’s busiest season There’s a tiny mound of laundry on the corner of my dining room table; my youngest son’s homework is right next to it (who gives 4-year-olds homework, btw), and I just received the list for school spirit days in my inbox.  That’s right: It’s the hardest time of the year for working parents, who are not only juggling the burn of Q4, but back-to-school nights, homecomings, and preparing for the forthcoming holidays.  American parenting is a lot. In fact, nearly half of parents with children under 18 say most days are overwhelming, according to 2023 data cited by the US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Parents said a lack of support was a key stressor. It’s why Business Insider launched Village for Hire, a series that highlights the creative ways parents are trying to optimize their busy schedules amid rising costs. For many parents, getting time back is the ultimate reward. One marketing executive and mother of two pays a household manager $17 an hour to tackle her to-do list, while another pays their cousin $20 to do the same.  And yet another mom figured out a way to circumvent doing drop-offs and pick-ups with a unique bartering arrangement.  Becoming part of someone’s village has also turned into a meaningful side-hustle: One woman accidentally became a household manager. It started off by picking up her friends’ kids after school, and now she makes $450 a week. We’ve also been featuring parents who have turned to AI for help, including one CEO who created agents to read school emails, create school calendars, or even do meal prep.  Have you found a creative way to balance it all? Tell me about it. You may help another parent fighting through fall.

Caroline Gutman for BI Free-range parenting Rafi Meitiv, then 10, and his 6-year-old sister were picked up by police while walking about three-quarters of a mile home from a playground. The incident eventually prompted an investigation by Child Protective Services into his parents. Now 21, Rafi spoke out for the first time about the childhood incident that made national headlines. He said he loved being a free-range kid because it taught him to be more “street smart” and gave him the freedom he needed.  While many American parents long for their kids to experience more of the “latchkey” childhoods they themselves enjoyed, they hesitate to actually implement that level of independence. More afraid of CPS than stranger danger.

Tasso Beyond wearables Men across the country — and around the globe — are using a plastic, quarter-size red pushbutton called Tasso+ to check their testosterone levels at home, and it’s being hailed as a game changer. The medical device, which received FDA clearance in 2022, also tracks your cholesterol, thyroid function, and hormone health, going beyond the data you’d get from a smartwatch, ring, or scale.  There are more benefits to getting your blood drawn by a pro, though.

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images The singer vs. the toy shop Kelly Clarkson’s viral clash with the Art of Play toy shop in Brooklyn captivated the internet — but the drama didn’t result in a definitive “winner.” Instead, PR pros said both parties attempted to position themselves as victims to gain sympathy.  Here’s why that was a mistake.

Wirestock/Getty Images   A Napa Valley dupe Cheyenne Elwell’s 30th birthday trip to Napa Valley in Northern California was magical — it just came with a hefty price tag. For her 33rd birthday, Elwell went to Walla Walla, Washington, which offered her the kind of wine vacation she loved in Napa for a lower price. Small-town travel.

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images What we're watching this weekend The highly anticipated A24 documentary “You Can See Everything,” directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, about Elizabeth Holmes, is in theatres now. And according to BI’s Callie Ahlgrim, it’s not the movie it appears to be. An unlikely star also emerges in the doc: Holmes’ husband William “Billy” Evans.

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI What to shop A lesson learned in Rome. Style tester Mark Marino once had to buy new sneakers mid-vacation after his trusty everyday pair left him with aching feet and blistered heels. He’s since tested 20 pairs of travel shoes for men, from dress shoes to slip-ons and even sandals, with an eye toward cushioning, versatility, and the demands of different destinations. More money, less phone? Google’s Pixel 11 Pro now starts at $1,099, effectively $100 more than last year’s model, with 4GB less RAM to show for it. Our reviewer found plenty to like about its cameras and AI features, but isn’t convinced those upgrades justify the premium. The case for better basics. A closet full of clothes is no match for a perfect white tee, your favorite pair of jeans, and more pieces you can wear on repeat. After years of wearing and washing wardrobe staples, our style editors found the clothing brands that deliver on fabric, fit, and longevity without charging designer prices.

Business Insider Why stadiums can charge whatever they want for food Thanks to exclusive concession contracts, private stadium operations, and restrictions on outside food, teams and vendors can charge fans more even though many stadiums were built with taxpayer dollars.    Legal questions around privately operated stadiums and the role of public subsidies have made it difficult to regulate concession prices. Watch the full video

The Business Insider Today team Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief of life, in New York. Grace Lett, senior editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, executive editor, in New York. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York.    Get in touch. Email us at today@businessinsider.com   Get more Business Insider Subscribe for unlimited articles. Never miss a story when you download our app.