Inserts popular hints about last crossword (8)
I believe the answer is:
includes
'inserts' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to change as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'popular hints about last crossword' is the wordplay.
'popular' becomes 'in' ('in' can mean trendy).
'hints' becomes 'clues' ('clue' can be a synonym of 'hint').
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'last' suggests the final letters.
The final letter of 'crossword' is 'd'.
'clues' going around 'd' is 'cludes'.
'in'+'cludes'='INCLUDES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for includes that I've seen before include "Allows participation" , "embraces" , "Adds in" , "Considers as part of something" , "Takes in along with others" .)