How a rare 'pollen storm' is causing so many people to suffer this year.

Remembering Harry Belafonte. Bobbie Thomas shares beauty essentials at 50% off. April 26, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY April 26, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY Legendary singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte's incredible legacy is celebrated after his death at 96. Plus, a "pollen storm" is causing more adults to get seasonal allergies for the first time, and the author of "How to Dad" shares tips to help ease anxiety for new fathers. The Latest   [Harry Belafonte, singer and trailblazing civil rights icon, dies at 96.]( Singer and activist [Harry Belafonte](, known for popularizing calypso music, breaking barriers in Hollywood and playing a key role in the civil rights movement, died at 96 from heart failure, his spokesman said yesterday. Belafonte rose to prominence in the 1950s with the hits “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and "Jamaica Farewell" from his best-selling "Calypso" album. The two-time Grammy winner was also the [first Black producer in television]( and won an Emmy Award in 1960. Most prominently, he was an activist who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr. and fought against apartheid in South Africa and discrimination around the world. "To the world, he was a legend, but to us, he was Dad," his family said in a statement. [Read more about Belafonte's remarkable life]( and [look back at his appearances on TODAY through the years](. [🤧 A 'pollen storm' is causing scores of adults to suffer from allergies this season for the first time.]( A growing number of adults are [dealing with seasonal allergies for the first time](, a situation that experts say appears to be due to climate change. "The pollen season right now is about three weeks longer than it was 30 years ago, and there's about 20% more pollen in the air," Dr. Neelu Tummala of George Washington University told NBC News. Tummala said that as the Earth's core temperature increases, the ground thaws earlier in the year, prompting trees to flower and produce pollen earlier. Increasing CO2 levels also have resulted in more pollen in the air, which one allergist called a "pollen storm." [Itching in the eyes, nose and throat]( is a telltale sign of an allergic reaction to pollen, as opposed to congestion and coughing, which could just be from respiratory viruses. [Here are some helpful ways to treat seasonal allergies]( and tips to keep pollen at bay. [👶 New dads don't get much parenting advice. This author and father of two wants to help.]( Todd Detwiler, a dad of a 3-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, is [hoping to give new fathers what they need to know]( with his new book "How to Dad" so that they can "learn on the job." He breaks down cleaning baby bottles, identifying false signs of labor and even delivering a baby in the event of an emergency. Detwiler shared [4 areas of advice about surviving new fatherhood,]( including being patient with yourself, preparing for babies to change your relationship in good and bad ways, and making sure to retain some of your old self. "Let's say you loved playing tennis before your baby came along but now you have less time," he told TODAY.com. "You need to build that time in. Don't let something you love slip away." [🧴 Get up to 50% off on Bobbie Thomas' favorite self-tanner, face cleanser, lip balm and more.]( Our style maven Bobbie Thomas always has her eye out for the best in beauty and fashion, so her [Bobbie's Best picks]( often go quickly. Bobbie shared[7 beauty essentials that you can buy for up to 50% off](, including anti-wrinkle cream, a body bronzer that will give you an "instant glow," cleansing oils, serums and more. The deals only last until Friday, so don't wait too long to add them to your cart! Live Better TODAY   Achieve your life goals with easy tips. Do you have a nerve-racking situation threatening to derail your day? If so, take a beat and try these [6 ways to reduce stress and anxiety in five minutes]( or less. Taking three minutes to focus on your breathing, putting your phone away, or listening to relaxing music are just a few ways that can help you slow down and process a stressful situation on the fly. [See all the tips here](. What's for dessert?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you. Laura Dern says this [banana pudding]( has brought her family "multi-generational bliss" since her Grandma Mary started making it whenever they were celebrating. The Oscar winner reflected on how the dish always brought them together to share stories and laughs, and it's so good that she and her mother, actor Diane Ladd, would jockey with each other to get the first serving. [Check out her family recipe here](. Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. Forget "Hush, Little Baby," this 2-month-old needs to get crunk to [Lil Jon's "Get Low"]( when he's feeling fussy. British mom Melissa Buckley, 27, shared a video on TikTok demonstrating how the thumping bass of the rapper's 2002 hit [helps her son Jackson immediately stop crying](. "I listened to it a lot in the latter half of my pregnancy because I was trying to get him low, and then I listened to it on repeat a few times a day for probably three, four weeks on end," Melissa told TODAY.com. With its soothing effect on Jackson, "Get Low" is now booming from the window to the walls a few times a day in their house. It also caught the attention of the rapper himself, who (in typical Lil Jon fashion) wrote "Wowwwww" in the comments. [See the video here.](   Thanks for letting us in your inbox! See you again tomorrow morning. Written by Scott Stump | Edited by Philip Caulfield Want to refer a friend?[Subscribe here]( Send us Feedback Follow us on Facebook More TODAY Newsletters 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_today) | [Privacy]( | [Contact]( [MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_today) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT](