An awkward talk led to a woman’s colon cancer diagnosis at 38.

'Barbenheimer' is upon us. Plus, what to know about the women's World Cup. July 21, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY July 21, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY Controversial new Florida public school standards will now teach that slavery helped some Black people by giving them useful skills. Plus, all you need to know about the twin release of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," and the opening World Cup game for the defending champion U.S. Women's National Team kicks off tonight. The Latest   [Florida schools will teach that some Black people benefited from slavery because it taught useful skills.]( Florida’s public schools will now teach students that some Black people [benefited from slavery]( because it taught them useful skills as part of new African American history standards approved yesterday. The Florida Board of Education’s new standards include controversial language about how “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit,” according to a [216-page document]( on how social studies will be taught. A statewide union representing about 150,000 teachers blasted the new standards, calling them “a big step backward." “Gov. DeSantis is pursuing a political agenda guaranteed to set good people against one another, and in the process he’s cheating our kids," the president of the union said. [Read more here](. [💥'Barbenheimer' is here: All you need to know about today's release of 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer.']( It's finally time to see if [two of the most anticipated movies of the summer]( live up to the hype, with "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" hitting theaters in wide release today. Whether you're decked out in pink or bracing yourself for the story of the father of the atomic bomb, we have all you need to get caught up before you settle in for either flick. Read about the [real-life inspiration for Barbie](, the [history of her evolution](, the movie's [dynamite soundtrack](, the fun [food collaborations](, and how to get that [Barbiecore style](. Also, find out the [true stories]( behind two of the [supporting characters]( in "Oppenheimer," plus thoughts on the film from director [Christopher Nolan]( and star [Matt Damon](. [😬 Essay: The awkward conversation that led to my colon cancer diagnosis at 38.]( Brooks Bell was stressed out about an important business trip when she found [blood in her stool](. Discussing bathroom habits was embarrassing, but she went ahead and brought it up to her husband anyway. It led to a doctor's visit and ultimately a diagnosis of [stage 3 colon cancer at 38](. She underwent a grueling but successful treatment and is thankful she fought through the uncomfortable feeling to talk about her bathroom issues. "That awkward conversation that I forced myself to have with my husband led to an early and survivable diagnosis for me," she wrote in an essay for TODAY.com. "But had I continued to be embarrassed, it might not have worked out that way." [Read the essay here](. [🍨 Exclusive deals on 21 summer fashion and beauty staples, plus more must-haves.]( Make the best of the rest of summer with these [21 exclusive deals]( on grilling tools, jumpsuits, beauty products and more that start [as low as $8](. If you're looking to get in on the trend of making homemade ice cream on a hot summer night, our Shop TODAY team found great deals on a few different gadget options. [See all the deals here](. Start TODAY   Achieve your life and health goals with easy tips. Good news for the weekend warriors: [It's OK if you just work out on weekends]( — at least when it comes to your risk of heart disease. New research [published in the JAMA]( found that even if you have a jam-packed weekday schedule, exercising 150 minutes during one or two days on the weekend can still cut your heart attack risk by 27% and heart failure risk by 38%. That's pretty close to the 35% and 36% decrease, respectively, for people who exercised more than two days a week, the study found. [Read more here](, including the benefits of exercising throughout the week. What's for dinner?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you. Blackberries in barbecue sauce? Food Network star Michael Symon will have you wondering why you've never tried it before with his [spatchcocked chicken]( with a sauce made from the sweet summer fruit. The blackberries offset the heat of the habanero pepper and chipotle powder, and you can make the barbecue sauce while the chicken is cooking on the grill. [Get the recipe](. Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. U-S-A! U-S-A! It's time to break out the red, white and blue and cheer for the [U.S. Women's National Team]( in the 2023 FIFA World Cup! The top-ranked squad in the world begins its journey tonight as they try to become the first women's team in history to win three straight World Cup titles. This year's team is a mix of household names (Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan) and rising stars (Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman). They kick off tonight against Vietnam at 9 p.m. E.T. Here's [how to watch](, plus [everything you need to know]( about the squad.   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](