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Kings C Sabonis Wants to Be Primary Offensive Initiator
The Sacramento Kings got great return games from Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, which is a great sign of things to come. As the season progresses, Sabonis should be a primary option on the offensive end.
World's only venomous primate lost to science for 90 years resurfaces in unbelievable place
Arsenal fear Saka could be out for two months
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka could be sidelined for up to eight weeks with the quadriceps injury he suffered against Bayern Munich.
Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
Notre Dame Needs More Pass Rushers To Emerge On Defense
Static schemes and declining production from stars like Bryce Young have stalled the Irish defense. To survive, Chris Ash must unleash aggressive blitzes and prioritize pure pressure.
Sixers Mount Historic Comeback, LeBron James Wins Home Debut
The Philadelphia 76ers made history on Thursday night in LeBron James’ home debut at Wells Fargo Center.Fueled by an electric 32-point performance by Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers erased a 29-point deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 in their home opener.The 29-point comeback is the Sixers’ biggest comeback victory in the play-by-play era. The improbable […] The post Sixers Mount Historic Comeback, LeBron James Wins Home Debut appeared first on HEAVY.
Justice Department asks appeals court to intervene in California ballot case
WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The US Justice Department asked an appeals court to intervene on Thursday in its lawsuit seeking to temporarily block California from counting more than 20,000
Wood Co. Health Department reminds parents to create safe sleeping environment for kids
Wood Co. Health Department reminds parents to create safe sleeping environment for kids
OpenAI makes its Jev competitor widely available as decision model competition heats up
OpenAI is launching its decision model to the world. Can it compete with the original Jev?
Maui Coral Reef Holds Secrets Of The Past
Scientists have studied a two-century-old coral core from Maui's Olowalu reef, revealing how land use has impacted reef health.
Red Wings Call Up Michal Postava for West Coast Trip
The Griffins' coach says Michal Postava is joining Detroit's road trip, and nobody has said why. #RedWings
3 Titans players who could help replace DT Jordan Elliott
The Tennessee Titans released DT Jordan Elliott after a disturbing situation; we have 3 players who could replace him.
The NFL’s Next Great Offensive Revolution
The NFL's next offensive revolution could revive physical running games and heavier formations as coaches find new ways to attack modern defenses.
One painful stat that is haunting the Bengals offense
This needs to change for the Bengals offense to take it to the next level.
Istios Health Expands Clinical Research Network into Texas Through Kidney Care Associates Partnership
Partnership strengthens Istios’s growing nephrology research network and expands community-based research capabilities across cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseasesPHOENIX, Oct. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Istios Health, a healthcare technology and clinical research company, today announced a partnership with Kidney Care Associates, marking its expansion into Texas and strengthening its national network for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) disease research. The partnership builds o
New York Yankees news: Steinbrenner, Cashman face the press
The Yankee owner defends his staff; salary cap Hal’s priority; responding to “all in” talk; Cody the best in left
ESPN announcers incredulous over LaMelo Ball non-travel
The NBA season saw it’s first full night of action on Wednesday with most of the league’s teams playing their first game of the season. That meant we got our first look at LaMelo Ball teaming up with Anthony Edwards for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Our first look at NBA refereeing was a reminder that we…
Community Health Alliance opens new 988 call center in Fairfield
A new facility that supports behavioral health and crisis response services has officially opened in Butler County.
Side Acquires Boutique Art Studio Roboto Entertainment in Creative Services Push
/PRNewswire/ -- Leading games services provider, Side, today acquired the boutique games art studio, Roboto Entertainment, strengthening its global art...
Liev Schreiber scolds interviewer at red carpet premiere: ‘Talk to people like they’re humans’
The actor was promoting his new Apple TV crime drama, “Nocturne,” at its New York premiere.
Dem Senate candidate on why he thinks he can win in Trump territory: ‘Mississippians have been betrayed’
“DWTS”’ Ezra Frech took brutal fall while rehearsing for ‘Dedication Night’ contemporary routine
Frech also spoke to EW about developing the “blade stand” move with pro partner Daniella Karagach.
Is Letitia James weaponizing her office? Opponent focuses more on crime, less on politics
Como humiliate Manchester United, Michael Carrick's job on the line
A footballing lesson.Alongside the clash between LOSC and Galatasaray, another hugely important match took place this Wednesday at 18:45. Como hosted a Manchester United side in crisis, who headed int...
Popular olive oil shot trend has Americans chasing health benefits as doctor questions the hype
Should you take olive oil shots to boost health? Harvard-trained doctor Nick Norwitz, M.D., Ph.D., shares what you need to know about the trending wellness habit.
Pulpit Politics: Johnson Amendment Rarely Enforced
The Johnson Amendment prohibits tax-exempt religious and charitable organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Some Oklahoma churches have found a loophole: partnerships with other organizations let them reveal political alignments.
Has Susan Collins’s political luck finally run out?
Anti-Trump voters could decide Maine’s crucial Senate race.
Sunderland Have Issues, But They Are Fixable
All is not well on Wearside, but with three key games to come, the Lads need to get themselves back on track.
Eagles' Saquon Barkley Trade Proposal Might Make Too Much Sense
It wouldn't be easy, but it could be smart.
Jaguars Urged to Trade for $12M CB at Deadline
One of the biggest takeaways from the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ loss to the Houston Texans in Week 6 is that the team has a serious need at cornerback. As the Jaguars sit at 4-2 during the bye week, they will likely be considering trades to make them buyers. Perhaps the best name the Jaguars could add […] The post Jaguars Urged to Trade for $12M CB at Deadline appeared first on HEAVY.
TV5, Great Lakes Sports & Entertainment Network to air Pistons-Heat game Friday
The Detroit Pistons will play the Miami Heat on Friday, Oct. 23, and there’s some new ways to watch.
How Democrats Might – or Might Not
Just a few months ago, it didn’t look feasible for Democrats to flip control of the U.S. Senate. Now it’s a real possibility – and this is how the party could get there. It’s all about the math. Today, Republicans control the chamber, 53-47. If Democrats can hold all four of their vulnerable seats,
iPad Mini 8 Expected Next Week With These 10 New Features
Apple reportedly plans to unveil an iPad mini 8 with an OLED display next week, with those invited to Apple's Los Angeles experience on Wednesday, October 28 expected to receive hands-on time with the device, alongside MacBook Pro models with touch-enabled OLED displays, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, and an iMac with an M6 chip.
Roeper alum returns to educate after long career in science
BIRMINGHAM — Shannon Cass-Calay, 1988 graduate of The Roeper School, said it was always a life goal to return to the school as an educator.
Bucs K McLaughlin Makes NFL History in Week 6 Loss
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have enjoyed some consistent placekicking from Chase McLaughlin since signing the journeyman back in 2023. On Sunday, he etched his name further in the all-time NFL record books.
America’s biggest measles outbreaks have very different death tolls. Why?
Outbreaks in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, and West Texas have produced dramatically different numbers of deaths.
Kenya Confirms New Ebola Case, Total at Nine, Health Ministry Says
NAIROBI, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Kenya has confirmed a new Ebola case, bringing the total number of infections to nine, the health ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry said the latest case was a close family member of the first patient and had already been placed in quarantine. "All nine cases ...
John Turturro, thief of New York characters, adds a capstone in 'The Last Pickpocket in New York'
John Turturro grew up in Hollis, Queens, and has lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn, since 1988
Christina Applegate Reveals She Was Misdiagnosed With MS: ‘I’m Back at Square One’ and It’s a ‘Mindf—’
Christina Applegate returned to her podcast, “MeSsy,” on Tuesday with some shocking news: She was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After taking a break from the podcast for seven months due to he...
Washington Huskies Head Coach Voices Support For Expanded Playoff
Jedd Fisch seemed optimistic about the College Football Playoff expanding from 12 to 24 teams.
PREVIEW: Wolves face Portsmouth for the first time since 2010
Portsmouth will travel to Molineux on Tuesday evening for the first time in 17 years to face Wolves in a rescheduled Championship fixture.With a game in hand, a win for Cesar Peixoto’s side will see...
Steelers set to reunite with former wide receiver
The Los Angeles Chargers released Valdes-Scantling on Saturday.
Monday Night Football live chat, discussion: 49ers vs. Commanders
Join our Monday Night Football live chat for Commanders vs. 49ers.
Magic's Wendell Carter Jr Praises Annual Event for Underprivileged Youth
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. was present for the team's seventh annual Pick, Read & Roll event on Monday.
Commanders vs. 49ers live updates, inactives, where to watch: Mike Evans, Stefon Diggs active for Monday Night Football
Packers 23 Cowboys 13: Green Bay Cages Dak and Dallas
The Green Bay Packers (4-2) have now won three straight, with back-to-back convincing victories over their NFC opponents.
Cowboys' Stephen Jones 'absolutely' supports Brian Schottenheimer after another miserable showing, 2-4 start
Why the Muslim Brotherhood has become a flashpoint in the Michigan Senate race
The Muslim Brotherhood has become a flashpoint in Michigan’s Senate race, with Republicans trying to cast Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed as sympathetic to interests connected to Islamic terror and El-Sayed arguing that he is being unfairly accused of the same “dual loyalties” that former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama once were.
Opinion: How one-party politics and a complacent media fail Cook County
Cook County and lately Illinois are paying a high price for the one-party system that the monetization of politics propagates.
Opinion: How one-party politics and a complacent media fail Cook County
Cook County and lately Illinois are paying a high price for the one-party system that the monetization of politics propagates.
NBA Predictions 2026-27: Who wins MVP? Rookie of the Year? Our experts make their awards picks
Nick Saban recalls kind gesture from Jalen Hurts amid ex-Alabama football QB health concerns
Nick Saban will remember his former Alabama football QB Jalen Hurts as a \
How Iran war votes in Congress became a focal point for campaign ad attacks
Democrats and aligned advocacy groups are hitting the airwaves with a flood of campaign ads on the Iran war as they seek to win back in the House and Senate.
Miley Cyrus reveals ghostly encounter with Dolly Parton: ‘I know she’s here with me’
Cyrus previously cried on stage during her Hollywood Bowl show while recalling Parton’s impact.
Pretty Cool Ice Cream's Dana Cree on motherhood and business
Pastry chef Dana Cree shares how motherhood shaped Chicago's Pretty Cool Ice Cream, from thoughtful space design to family flavor collaborations.
Jordan Love accounts for two total touchdowns in win
Jordan Love had three touchdown passes dropped on SNF, finishing with 276 yards, one TD and one INT in the win over Dallas.
Dodgers’ Ohtani Admitted Brewers Exposed Him in NLCS Sweep
After a shocking National League Championship Series sweep, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani confronted his postseason struggles, crediting the Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching staff for uncovering vulnerabilities.
Apple Expected to Release New Products on Next Four Fridays
Apple likely plans to release MacBook Pro models with OLED displays, 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac models with M6 chips, and/or an iPad mini 8 with an OLED display on Friday, November 6, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The devices are expected to be announced on Tuesday, October 27 or Wednesday, October 28. If this timeframe proves to be accurate, then Apple will be releasing new products for the next four Fridays, with the other dates already announced.
Jamel Dean Gets Nod as Steelers Captain vs. Former Team
TAMPA, Fla. — Ahead of Sunday’s road matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, cornerback Jamel Dean and running back Travis […]
Box Office: Elizabeth Holmes movie ‘You Can See Everything’ is now a hit in theaters too
Paramount's “Street Fighter” leads the box office this weekend, earning $31 million from 3,575 theaters in the U.S. and Canada | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
David Pollack provides positive update regarding his wife’s health
Georgia great David Pollack has been very open about his wife’s health battles over the recent years.
7-Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan for a Healthy Gut, Created by a Dietitian
If you’re looking for a way to support your gut health, look no further. Follow this Mediterranean-diet meal plan created by a dietitian.
The Political Economy of the Restaurant
Political organizer and chef Lewis Bassett’s The Full English offers a firsthand account of how English food has been shaped by industrialization, empire, and class from the vantage point of restaurants across the country.
House Speaker Mike Johnson draws on faith as he fights to hold the Republican majority
Speaker Mike Johnson says he believes Republicans will hold on to their House majority on election day and defy a surge of Democratic momentum in the final stretch of the midterm campaign
I grew up progressive. I became a conservative. Here's why
My parents watched 'The Daily Show' every night. I laughed along – until I didn't. How a kid from Detroit ended up to the right of his whole family.
Naomi Watts, 58, wants women to know about this unexpected menopause symptom – here’s how to fix it
We shouldn't just put up with discomfort as 'normal',
Minnesota agrivoltaics project shows promise of mixing farming, solar power
Winifred Sylvah is thriving with her cucumber harvest at a solar farm in Big Lake, Minnesota. She's part of an agrivoltaics project, blending farming with solar power. This initiative is
Penguins Go Bust in Vegas
LAS VEGAS — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ (3-5-1) season is slipping and sliding away. After a boisterous 2-0-0 start, the Penguins […]
Med Center Health receives donation
A 4-point-2 million dollar donation has been given to the Med Center Health from the Robert and Mary Tincher Charitable Foundation.
K-Pop Newcomers A2O Lite and A2O Soul Make Their Debut
The multinational girl and boy groups are the latest project from Lee Soo-man, the former SM Entertainment producer.
24-Team College Football Playoff Coming as Soon as 2027
The 12-team playoff era didn’t last long. After just three years, it seems all but official that the playoff will double in size to 24 teams making it feel much more like the NCAA basketball tournament than the original 4-team playoff that lasted from the 2014-2023 season. With the news, we explain the details and […]
‘Transformational’: Iowa lawmaker reacts to massive steel plant announcement, political landscape in the state
Fox News Digital spoke to Iowa GOP State Rep. Mike Vondran about the political dynamics on the ground in the Hawkeye State leading up to the midterm election as well as the newly announced steel plant in the state.
Political scientist: 'The darkest moment' in the war in Ukraine
Geopolitical expert Klemens Fischer believes Ukraine finds itself in a desperate situation following President Donald Trump's decision to halt the new US sanctions package intended for Russia. "This i...
Big Week For Red Wings 40-Goal Scorers
Alex DeBrincat signed a contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings this week, and the Hockeytown faithful couldn’t be happier. […]
Trump puts new Russia sanctions passed by Congress on hold, saying waiver is in US national interest
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order that puts on hold a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause was in the nat...
Bakersfield man detained by ICE on his way to work; business partner raises concerns over his treatment
A Bakersfield man was detained by ICE on his way to work. His business partner heard it over the phone and is raising concerns about his treatment.
Ex-Trump lawyer Ty Cobb slams Press Secretary ouster, alleges White House ‘double standard’
Heart surgeons now earn more than $1 million per year
Cardiac surgeon compensation is up 11%, according to new survey data from MedAxiom and the American College of Cardiology. Vascular surgeons experienced an increase in pay as well, but it was much smaller.
Josh Bell Opens Up About His Future With the Twins
The Twins designated hitter led the club in RBIs in his first year in Minnesota, and now both sides have a decision to make about 2027.
What Makes Your Cannabis Business Buyable Right Now?
It’s a fraught question for many operators: How attractive is my business to potential buyers in the current market? M&A experts offer 5 characteristics buyers are seeking for entrepreneurs considering or curious about their businesses’ potential in an exit. Plus, 5 ways to make your business more attractive to buyers.
Michael Penix Jr. set to play in Week 6
Falcons Michael Penix Jr. cleared to play this week despite his Week 5 injury
Health officials issue water quality advisory for Fort Walton Beach park
The advisory remains in effect until follow-up testing confirms bacteria levels have dropped back into acceptable safety ranges.
NBA, sportsbooks agree to ban different types of prop bets
The NBA and prominent sportsbooks agree to ban different types of prop bets.
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Dunleavy was confident that Butler would appreciate …
Dunleavy was confident that Butler would appreciate …
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
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