Welcome back to school

The September issue of The Highlight explores the booming loneliness economy, examining whether spending can mitigate loneliness, which is compared to smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Allie Volpe analyzes this trend in the cover story. Meanwhile, students across the Natrona County School District returned to school on Monday, August 31, 2026. These reports highlight both a growing societal health concern regarding isolation and the seasonal transition back to academic routines for local students.