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Republicans who denied 2020 election results could be governors next year
Electing such candidates for governor would give deniers key oversight of the 2028 presidential election in swing states like Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
High school students get hands-on look at health care careers through UMA Medical Bootcamp - University of Maine at Augusta
Oxford County high school students learn about UMA’s health care programs during the second annual Medical Bootcamp, a hands-on career exploration event offered in partnership with Community Concepts through a Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities grant. High school students from Oxford County explored the future of health care through UMA’s…
Louisville Metro Corrections to drop controversial health provider
Louisville Metro Corrections said it intends to terminate its contract with its controversial health care provider, YesCare.
Op/Ed: Small Businesses Deserve Better Health Coverage Choices in N.C.
For years, one of the most consistent concerns heard from North Carolina small businesses is the rising cost of health coverage. Small businesses want to do right by their employees and offer competitive benefits. But unlike large employers, they often lack the size and purchasing power needed to negotiate better rates and manage risk, leaving them more exposed to premium increases.
Costa Rica’s paradox of political continuity
Across Latin America, voters have punished incumbents and rejected traditional parties. Costa Rica appears to be an exception.
South Africa’s top court revives impeachment inquiry against president
The scandal centres on a large sum of foreign currency stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farmhouse in 2020.
Political Science department concludes its two-term editorship of national undergraduate research journal
Since Fall 2020, Elon University’s Department of Political Science and Public Policy has hosted the Pi Sigma Alpha Undergraduate Journal of Politics, a publication of the Pi Sigma Alpha, the...
‘Try to find that edge’: Nebraska college students are betting on sports
Go to WarHorse Casino on any night, and it’s not uncommon to find college students. In 2020, Nebraska voters legalized casino gambling at horse racing tracks, and WarHorse’s Lincoln operation was the first to open in 2022.
GA gov. candidate slams ruling allowing DOJ to keep seized 2020 ballots
The 'nostalgia effect': Scientists produce less disruptive work as they age
You probably know that Einstein changed the face of physics with his theory of relativity in his twenties. What you may not know is that he spent his later career on a crusade against quantum mechanics, ...
Pat Caputo, Metro Detroit sports personality, passes away
Pat Caputo passed away Thursday, his family announced via social media.
Sports wagering group weighs in on NYS Gaming Commission's new proposed measures
New Yorkers have until next Friday, May 15th, to weigh in on new guardrails and regulations regarding sports wagering.One of the draft regulations includes "Ru
2 Akron businesses served warrants in illegal gambling investigation
The Ohio Casino Control Commission and Akron Police Department worked together to serve search warrants to two businesses for illegal gambling.
ASU graduate steps into leadership role in sports psychology field
For Jake Land, sports psychology is more than a degree, it is a calling shaped by years of athletic experience, curiosity about the mind and a deep belief that failure can be one of the most powerful tools for growth.
Lionel Messi, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal – All the sports megastars at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix
Formula 1 always attracts sporting royalty, but Miami took it to another level – here are all the megastars at the track this weekend
HBS Launches Major New Podcast on Founder Decision-Making, Featuring Reese Witherspoon As First Guest
HBS announces the launch of The Founder Mindset with Reza Satchu, a new podcast examining what it actually takes to become a founder—not in hindsight, but in the moments before outcomes are known.
‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Schmigadoon!’ earn 12 Tony nominations each to lead the field
Lexington native Rachel Dratch was also among the nominees in this year's crop.
Fulton County asks court to stop DOJ subpoena of 2020 election workers’ personal information
The Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections in Georgia wants to block the Justice Department from gaining access to the personal information of thousands of 2020 election workers.
Justice Department seeks the names of 2020 election workers in Georgia's Fulton County
The Justice Department is seeking the names of every person who worked in the 2020 election in Georgia’s Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold Donald Trump has accused of widespread voter fraud he says cost him victory against Joe Biden in the state that year.
Georgia Democrats want voters to remember 2020 when they vote in 2026
The state Democratic Party has paid for a TV ad referencing Donald Trump's attempt to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results.
How Ochsner continues to prioritize physician well-being
At the Gulf Coast-based health system, Gold-level recognition helps drive culture change, strengthen recruitment and support physician retention.
Fulton seeks to block federal subpoena targeting 2020 election workers
The subpoena seeks personally identifying information for thousands of paid and volunteer election workers.
Trump Administration Demands Names of 2020 Election Workers in Georgia
The Justice Department again appears to be using the investigative power of the federal government to rehash debunked claims that Democrats stole the 2020 election.
Trump Administration Demands Names of 2020 Election Workers in Georgia
The Justice Department again appears to be using the investigative power of the federal government to rehash debunked claims that Democrats stole the 2020 election.
Lawncare businesses forced to embrace fuel surcharges as Iran war keeps gas prices climbing
Corteva's seed business to be named Vylor following planned 2026 separation
Corteva has renamed its seed and genetics business Vylor. In a statement, the company says the new division will further strengthen gene editing and disease resistance, while also helping farmers explore new row crop opportunities. Corteva says the overall restructuring is designed to capitalize on investments in biological and differentiated crop protection products, while also […]
Democrats look for a foothold in Iowa as Vance visits to boost GOP candidate
Republican Donald Trump may have won the state by double digits in the last presidential election, but growing dissatisfaction with his leadership and rising costs from the Iran war could help set the stage for Democrats to make previously unattainable gains.
Summit Co restaurant inspections show where April violations occurred
Here's a look at which Summit County restaurants had the most health code violations in April 2026.
India loses its last left-wing government after five decades
Kerala in India, which gave the world its first democratically elected communist government, has voted the left out.
State officials, lawmakers press for delay on WakeMed/Atrium deal
After initial media reports detailed the proposed combination of the Raleigh- and Charlotte-based systems, Wake County commissioners may move to slow down decision-making.
Racial health-care problems are stubborn — and they're particularly bad in Ohio, report says
Ohio has persistent and severe racial and ethnic health disparities. After cuts by the Trump administration, they'll get worse, a report says
How Perimenopause Became America's New Health Scare
If you’re a woman who speaks English, it sometimes feels like you can’t spend time on the internet without being bombarded with all the ways in which your body or your mind could be just a little broken. A few years ago, Instagram was full of women talking about attention deficit disorder, and lo and behold: From 2020 to 2022, the percentage of women (between the ages of 23 and 49) newly diagnosed with it nearly doubled. Not long ago, premenstrual syndrome was all the rage, with the algorithm pushing videos that explained why it’s okay to fly off the handle once a month. These days, the word perimenopause is everywhere. Perhaps you’ve seen the headlines. “Perimenopause is having a millennial moment. Here are 7 ways to cope,” says The Washington Post. Or perhaps you’ve seen Apple TV’s glossy drama Your Friends & Neighbors, which is back for its second season; the female protagonist Mel is explicitly perimenopausal, and in the first season, she keyed a car for no apparent reason. She’s played by Amanda Peet, who talks about being perimenopausal in real life (“God knows I’ve wanted to key a lot of cars in the last three years,” she’s said.) In fact, it sometimes feels like every celebrity interview with a forty- or fiftysomething woman requires her to open up about what’s going on with her hormones. Drew Barrymore joked on CBS Mornings that when she found out how long perimenopause can last, she thought she’d “never make it 10 years like this.” Katherine Heigl told Business Insider that “whoever designed it so that women would be going through perimenopause while raising teenagers should be sent a strongly worded letter.” At the same time, influencers who talk about perimenopause seem to have cropped up out of nowhere with something to sell you, causing people online to wonder where this all came from. It’s trickled down from Instagram to tchotchke shops, which sell fridge magnets that say “Perimenopause Is Hot.” You can buy a T-shirt that proclaims “Perimenopause Made Me Do It!” My mom, who is 48, started uncontrollably shaking her leg at night a few years ago. “It’s perimenopause,” she told me when I complained about how annoying it was. But what exactly is perimenopause—and why are we all talking about it all of a sudden?
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ struts to first place with $77 million debut
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” opened in 4,150 locations in North America. Women made up about 76% of the ticket buyers, according to PostTrak exit polls.
Austin Democrats brace for more redistricting efforts next year
Recent rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court could spur a third effort to redraw Texas' congressional maps since the 2020 census.
Surge in new business formations in Nevada
Nevada led the nation in post-pandemic small business growth, according to new analysis from UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research. Business filings surged in 2020, when Las Vegas ...
FBI seizure of Fulton County election ballots happened quickly after criminal probe opened, new timeline shows
A newly released timeline from the Justice Department reveals the FBI seized 2020 election materials from Georgia just a few weeks after opening a criminal probe, which experts told CNN is an unusually fast pace for a case of its kind.
Spirit says it’s going out of business, ending operations immediately
The airline said on its website that all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available.
Burgerville, Japanese restaurant and more. Top Tri-City business news
Big development plans took shape across the Tri-Cities last month.
Tom Steyer rails against Chevron money — but it flows to his allies, too
A Sacramento Bee analysis found seven Steyer endorsers have received campaign money through PACs funded in part by Chevron.
Timken Co. selling its belts business to Gates Industrial
The Timken Co. announced May 1 that it's selling its belts business to Gates Industrial Corp.
Americans continue to view both the Republican and Democratic parties negatively
The share of Americans holding unfavorable views of both parties has grown over time, rising to 26% today compared with 21% in 2020.
2 ASU professors elected to prestigious National Academy of Sciences
Two professors from Arizona State University have been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors awarded to scientists in the United States.The academy announced this week that 120 new members and 25 international members were selected for 2026, recognizing “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.”
Bradley Staats Appointed Dean of McCombs School of Business
He will begin his appointment on July 1, succeeding Lillian Mills, who has served as dean since 2020 and will return to the Department of Accounting as a distinguished faculty member.
Holmes Convocation Center creates a ‘Holme’ for arts, entertainment in Boone
For many years, Boone has been well known for its music scene. From bluegrass legend Doc Watson to High-Country-formed Rainbow Kitten Surprise, music has always been an important staple for the town. With this comes the absolute cruciality of a versatile venue for all kinds of entertainment. In 2020, App State Athletics invited Luke Combs...
Viewpoint: A career in science is possible, and worth it
Starting a career in science is exciting, but also demanding, with researchers often faced with intense competition, long working hours and high levels of stress. A pioneer in the field of mass spectrometry, Carol Robinson has been there. She speaks with Science|Business on the importance of creating a supportive environment, particularly for women.Robinson did not wake up one day thinking that she would become a scientist. It was only late in school that she developed an interest in chemistry. “The more you work at something, the more you think, actually, this is fascinating. So, I went much further and deeper than I ever needed to pass the exam. And then I loved it,” she says. “I thought, I’m going to give it my all. I’m going to enjoy it while I’m here. But I didn’t think this would be my career for 50 odd years.”She left school at 16 to become a lab technician with the drug company Pfizer, which is where she first worked with mass spectrometry. Fascinated, she was encouraged to take a part-time degree and then a PhD. She went on to do pioneering work in native mass spectrometry, a technique that is used to study protein structures in their natural state, paving the way for breakthroughs in drug discovery. She also broke new ground by becoming the first female professor of chemistry at the University of Cambridge, and then the first female professor of chemistry at the University of Oxford, her current home.She now wants to show young researchers that a career in science is worth it. “Sometimes, I believe the culture isn’t very encouraging, and that’s something I have worked on,” Robinson says.In 2021, she launched the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at Oxford, whose acronym gives a sense of what she hopes it will achieve. “Maybe it is corny,” she says. “It’s just a reminder that I would like it if we could all be kind to each other and supportive, especially for early-career researchers of either gender, because there’s quite a big attrition rate in science, and maybe it just doesn’t feel like a very friendly place to work.”And yet, a career in science comes with a lot of flexibility. “There are few careers where you have that amount of freedom, to go to conferences, to the library. Just because you didn’t see me didn’t mean I wasn’t working,” she says. “And I’m excited to come in every day. So, I don’t want people to think it’s a terrible place.”Gender equality is also important when it comes to the quality of science as a career. “The more women we have, the better it becomes,” Robinson adds.Imposter syndromeAccording to EU data, women outnumber men in university education but account for just about a third of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem). And while the number of women working as scientists and engineers in the 27-member bloc is on the rise, their representation remains below that of men, at 41%. This discrepancy is even more pronounced in top-tier functions across these fields, where women fill just 20% of positions.Having supervised many young scientists, Robinson sees that women continue to have a greater propensity than men to doubt their abilities, a feeling she once shared. “When I was doing my PhD at the University at Cambridge, I really felt like an imposter,” she says. “I don’t think I ever felt I deserved to be there or owned it and was proud. I just thought I was lucky.” Later on, she adds, “I was always that person who said, I can’t apply yet because my CV is not strong enough.”She has now made it her job to encourage women to break with this imposter syndrome. For example, rather than calling for volunteers to give a lecture in the groups that she mentors or teaches, which nearly always results in men stepping forward, she goes straight to the women, “because I know they won’t push themselves forward.”But the gender gap in science is not just down to imposter syndrome. The “obvious” reason, Robinson says, and the reason that is on everybody’s mind when discussing workplace gender equality, is the balance between work and raising a family. Her own path was to choose between the two, taking an eight-year break after completing a postdoctoral training fellowship to bring up three children. And she continues to advise women not to work part-time while they raise a family. “You’ll just get half the pay and continue to work full-time because you are not able to fit everything in,” she says. “You should be able to have a family and come back to have the career that you want.”The solution is for men to also take career breaks. “That kind of evens it up, so that it’s not such a big thing for women,” Robinson says. “I always encourage men in my groups to do that. I think it’s important to take your share of the duties.”Support produces resultsAccording to the Women in Stem Network, a UK advocacy group, countries with strong childcare systems and equal pay policies retain more women in technical careers. In Europe, these are primarily found in the Nordic region and parts of central Europe.At the EU level, the European Commission asks all Horizon Europe applicant organisations to have a gender action plan in place. Since this criterion was introduced in 2021, the share of women leading consortia has increased to 31%, against 23% in Horizon 2020. Their overall participation, however, has risen just 1%, to 38%. After trying to weaken the requirement for gender action plans in 2025, the Commission now intends to adopt a plan for supporting women in research and innovation.Related articlesCommission scraps plan to water down gender requirements in HorizonHow gender balance can swing who wins Horizon Europe fundingRobinson herself has benefited from three Advanced Grants from the European Research Council. “I was extremely honoured and privileged to get those, because they really allowed me to fuel my passion,” she says. “Without that, it would have been a much harder slog.”Beyond applying gender rules, she says that more work is needed on translational enterprise, where women are, once again, largely underrepresented. The European Patent Office found that only 13.8% of applications were filed by women in 2022. “We have so many more women doing amazing science; why do they feel it’s not a thing to have a company?” she asks.She founded her own spin-out company, OMass Technologies, in 2016, and remains chair of its scientific advisory board now that it trades as OMass Therapeutics. As for research, Robinson is now studying how changes in the brain may be linked to depression, using port-mortem tissue. “We’re hoping to publish soon,” she says. “We had to consult with a lot of people who knew a lot more about the brain than we did. So, we’ve learnt a lot, and that’s always a lot of fun to learn a new thing. That’s what keeps you going.”
Health care costs reach a breaking point
Embargoed until 5:00a.m. ET / 4:00am CT / 30, April 2026 Statement Highlights: New American Heart Association Presidential Advisory warns that U.S. health care affordability has reached a crisis point. Rising health care costs, driven largely by...
UK to build entertainment center in place of BCTC campus on Cooper Drive
Leaders at Bluegrass Community and Technical College said they plan to vacate the Cooper Drive campus by the end of 2026.
Simone Biles on mental health advocacy: "We're making progress, we're making change"
The 11-time Olympic medallist on how she sees mental health in sports five years after her conversation-sparking Olympics at Tokyo 2020.
New York lawmakers pass eighth state budget extender that runs through May 4
The state budget was due on April 1.
Apple Reportedly Questioning Whether iPhone Should Drop MagSafe
A leaker claims Apple is currently embroiled in an internal debate over whether MagSafe should remain a standard iPhone feature. The Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital" says that when MagSafe was first introduced, the mood inside Apple was reportedly aggressive about its expansion. MagSafe for the iPhone was introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020, bringing a ring of magnets to the back of the device for snap-on charging and accessory attachment.
Merchant Investment Takes Stake in Family Office Firm
Merchant Investment Management acquires a minority stake in Emerge Business Management to offer family office services to its RIA network
The Gospel Coalition (TGC)
The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Health workers still on job after sex abuse reports. Michigan law allows it
Michigan law doesn't require police or non-state licensed health facilities such as massage parlors to report misconduct by some health professionals.
Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for NTDs 2021–2030.Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma.”Australia’s journey to eliminationAustralia’s achievement reflects decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.National efforts intensified with the establishment of the National Trachoma Management Programme in 2006, which implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics to treat infection, promotion of facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Regular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachoma by teams of qualified health workers formed an important part of the Programme. Interventions were delivered through coordinated partnerships between federal and state governments, Aboriginal community-controlled health services, and local communities.Over time, sustained screening, treatment, and prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation and hygiene, led to a steady decline in trachoma prevalence. Australia’s approach included adaptations to reflect its context, such as targeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration, and strong integration with environmental health programmes.“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. “This major milestone is thanks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, community commitment and sustained investment over many decades.“The lessons from this work will inform how we approach other preventable health conditions in remote and regional Australia. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and local health workers have been central to this success, delivering culturally safe care and community-led solutions.”“This recognition from the World Health Organization reflects decades of work led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, alongside local health workers in remote First Nations communities,” said Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. “Their work has been critical to eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in Australia.”Advancing global efforts against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by WHO as NTDs. Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.Australia’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem highlights the importance of sustained political commitment and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the underlying determinants of health. It also underscores the feasibility of eliminating trachoma even in geographically challenging settings.In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy and scabies. Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.“Tackling neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific Region has long been a challenge for countries across the socioeconomic spectrum, given the complexities in reaching the most vulnerable communities, including in remote areas,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “As a doctor from Tonga, I’ve experienced these challenges for myself. But I also know that with strategic commitment underpinned by optimal resources and partnerships in health, success is possible as other countries in our region have also demonstrated. I commend Australia on eliminating trachoma as a public health problem and urge all involved to remain vigilant to ensure this status is maintained.”WHO continues to support countries working to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs, ensuring that progress reaches those most in need and that gains are sustained through strong surveillance, appropriately integrated into national health systems, and mainstreamed within the wider health sector and beyond.Editor’s notesNeglected tropical diseases and trachoma elimination effortsNeglected tropical diseases are associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. Their burden is mainly felt among impoverished communities in tropical areas.Public health targets for the control, elimination and eradication of these conditions were set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010352).In 1996, WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020), creating a network of governments, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions dedicated to the fight against trachoma. WHO continues to support endemic countries to accelerate progress towards the global target of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide; 2030 is the new target date.Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) “unknown to the health system” of < 0.2% in ≥15-year-olds; and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in children aged 1–9 years of < 5%, in each formerly endemic district, plus (iii) the existence of a system to identify and manage incident cases of TT.Other countries validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
Today on Texas Standard: Scientists identify jellyfish species previously unknown to science
If you think one jellyfish looks like another, marine biologists at Texas A&M University Galveston would disagree. Researchers have identified a jellyfish species previously unknown to science.
GOP wants Knox County commissioner prosecuted for voting in their primary
Republicans are asking the DA to look into whether Courtney Durrett's ballot choice was an \
Trump dismisses UTEP president, others from National Science Foundation Board
by Daniel Perez The White House fired all members of the National Science Board Friday, including Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso. President Donald Trump appointed Wilson – who previously served as his secretary of the Air Force – to the board in March 2020. The six-year term was to have
Global Health Experts Urge Urgent Action to Prevent Future Pandemics Where They Begin
BRONX, NY, April 27, 2026—A new paper published in The Lancet calls on governments to prioritize preventing zoonotic disease spillover—the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans—as a central pillar of global pandemic preparedness, The authors argue that w
Like Hart, sky-high political prospects of Swalwell given ‘The Monkey Business’
Eric Swalwell’s promising political career has likely reached an ignominious terminus. The man who aspired to the presidency in 2020 was plotting another route to that destination. Having entered California’s 2026 jungle primary for the governor’s office in Sacramento, he was leading the field when the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN ambushed the evident frontrunner […]
Like Hart, sky-high political prospects of Swalwell given ‘The Monkey Business’
Eric Swalwell’s promising political career has likely reached an ignominious terminus. The man who aspired to the presidency in 2020 was plotting another route to that destination. Having entered California’s 2026 jungle primary for the governor’s office in Sacramento, he was leading the field when the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN ambushed the evident frontrunner […]
Record spending on Mother's Day projected for this year's holiday
Some 75% of consumers say they'll buy mom flowers or greeting cards for May 10.
Editorial: Change continues, business by business
This week's editorial highlights the impact of transitions at beloved family-run businesses that endured for many decades on the North Fork.
Building Hope launching mental health focused programs throughout May
Editor’s note — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is...
Five Formula 1 drivers who have taken on extreme sporting challenges
Tomorrow is the London Marathon, so there’s no better time to look at some drivers who’ve taken on some extreme sporting challenges.
Spencer Fane to merge with Conner & Winters - Talk Business & Politics
Kansas City, Mo.-based Spencer Fane will combine with Tulsa, Okla-based Conner & Winters LLP. The merger, effective July 1, will result in Spencer Fane having its first Arkansas office, as...
Spencer Fane to merge with Conner & Winters - Talk Business & Politics
Kansas City, Mo.-based Spencer Fane will combine with Tulsa, Okla-based Conner & Winters LLP. The merger, effective July 1, will result in Spencer Fane having its first Arkansas office, as...
Entertainment Thought Leader: Keynote Speaker Scott Steinberg
Entertainment thought leader, futurist keynote speaker and consulting expert Scott Steinberg. AI innovation change leadership TV movies music games books apps - 3000 brands served!
Cases of syphilis and other STIs drop in Pennsylvania, new data shows, as local counties ramp up prevention and testing
Public health teams across the state ramped up efforts to target STIs after a sharp increase between 2020 and 2021.
Republicans running for Ohio's election chief want to dump drop boxes
Republican candidates for Ohio Secretary of State want to ditch election drop boxes, an option that came under fire from now-President Donald Trump following his 2020 defeat.
Congress keeps holding all-nighters. Lawmakers say it’s a symptom of dysfunction
It's a scenario that is playing out again and again as the House and the Senate fracture and careen from one crisis to the next.
Are You Overdue for a Doctor's Visit? We'll Come to You!
Cone Health’s mobile medicine program brings primary care, heart health, women’s services, and cancer screenings directly to neighborhoods, removing barriers to care.
German Business Sentiment Sinks to Lowest Since 2020
Companies are counting the cost of soaring energy prices driven by war in the Middle East and are increasingly pessimistic about the months ahead.
German business sentiment falls in April to lowest level since 2020
German business morale fell more than expected in April, as the Iran war made companies more pessimistic and threatened the long-awaited recovery of Europe's biggest economy.
Dolby Elevates In-Car Entertainment to New Heights at Auto China 2026
More Automakers, More Models: Dolby-enabled Vehicles Drive the Next Generation of In-Car Entertainment.
Newly surfaced photos reportedly show Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini at NYC bar in 2020, Mississippi casino in 2024
Newly surfaced photos reportedly show Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini at NYC bar in 2020
Russini resigned from her post at The Athletic on April 14, and Vrabel is skipping Day 3 of the NFL Draft to seek counseling.
Scene One Entertainment opens Market Arcade 8
Scene One Entertainment, alongside Benchmark Management Group, opened the Market Arcade 8 on Wednesday in downtown Buffalo - the latest for the Schenectady-based entertainment company, and its first foray in Western New York.
Quick look at the best read Tri-Cities business stories this week
From a major tax break proposal in Pasco to a new rail deal at Big Pasco Industrial Park, it was a busy week for business and community news in the Tri-Cities.
Healthy Heart, Longer Life: What Cardiologists Want You to Know
Heart disease is largely preventable. Learn expert tips on screenings, lifestyle changes, wearables, and warning signs to protect your heart for life.
Middle, High School Students Given a Spark to Explore Pathway into Science at Mission College
To connect middle and high school students to a possible career in science, El Nido Family Centers partnered with Bioscience Los Angeles County Inc. (Bioscience LA) and LA Mission College […]
From Science to Policy: Planetary Solutions in Action
Report translating breakthrough science into actionable policy for planetary health
A Previously Banned Apple Watch Health Feature Is Now Here to Stay
Apple has been embroiled in a six-year legal battle over one of its Apple Watch health apps. The end may finally be in sight, and here's what Apple has to say about it.
Keldon Johnson wins NBA Sixth Man of the Year after breaking Manu Ginóbili's Spurs record for bench points
The 2020 Draft pick found a valuable role for himself off the bench
Dozens of crashes into Long Grove bridge tracked by local business on ‘wall of shame'
A suburban chocolate shop is stepping beyond selling treats to track the dozens of times a historic bridge has been hit by truck drivers since 2020.
San Francisco Directs $15 Million to Health Department Security After Fatal Stabbing
The 13-page report presented a list of recommendations for the hospital and health department in response to the stabbing at SF General.
Pa. Senate makes another attempt at passing transgender sports ban
While 27 states have passed transgender sports bans since 2020, these proposals have repeatedly faltered in Pennsylvania.
The Symbolic Politics of Status in the MAGA Movement -
The Symbolic Politics of Status in the MAGA Movement By Biko Koenig, Franklin & Marshall College and Tali Mendelberg, Princeton University Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork among Make America Great Again (MAGA) activists during the 2020 [...]
What to expect at Topeka's 61st annual Blintze Brunch
The annual Blintze Brunch from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 26 at Temple Beth Sholom, 4200 SW Munson Avenue, will feature Jewish food and entertainment.
GE HealthCare touts international expansion of its partnership with RadNet
The companies say they’re entering the next phase of collaboration, offering GEHC mammography systems paired with AI offerings from DeepHealth.
A Previously Banned Apple Watch Health Feature May Soon Make a Comeback
Apple has been embroiled in a six-year legal battle over one of its Apple Watch health apps. The end may finally be in sight.
Fed chair nominee on 2020 election winner: 'Keep politics out of monetary policy'
Federal Reserve chairman nominee Kevin Warsh said Tuesday when asked who won the 2020 presidential election, "Keep politics out of monetary policy."
Fed chair nominee on 2020 election winner: 'Keep politics out of monetary policy'
Federal Reserve chairman nominee Kevin Warsh said Tuesday when asked who won the 2020 presidential election, "Keep politics out of monetary policy."
Fed chair nominee on 2020 election winner: 'Keep politics out of monetary policy'
Federal Reserve chairman nominee Kevin Warsh said Tuesday when asked who won the 2020 presidential election, "Keep politics out of monetary policy."
Warsh vows to keep monetary policy independent of politics
STORY: :: Fed chief nominee Warsh vows to keep monetary policy independent of politics:: Washington, D.C. / April 21, 2026:: Kevin Warsh, Federal Reserve chief nominee“Monetary policy independence is essential. Monetary policymakers must act in the nation's interest. Their decision is the product of rigor, deliberation and unclouded decision-making. And as Senator Warren said, I do not believe that independence of monetary policy is threatened when elected officials state their views on rates. Fed independence is up to the Fed." // :: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Democrat on Senate Banking Committee“So, independence takes courage. Let's check out your independence and your courage. We'll start easy. Mr. Warsh, did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?”WARSH: “Um, we try to keep politics, if I’m confirmed, out of the Federal Reserve.”WARREN: “I’m just asking you a factual question. I need to know. I need to measure your independence and your courage.”WARSH: “Senator, I believe that this body certified that election many years ago.”WARREN: “That’s not the question I’m asking. I’m asking did Donald Trump lose in 2020?”WARSH: “And I’m suggesting to you in 2020…”WARREN: “I’m suggesting you can’t answer that.”WARSH: “… the Fed had a huge inflation problem, and you certified the election…[crosstalk]… let’s keep the politics out of monetary policy.” //WARREN: "Just one little place where you disagree with Donald Trump.”WARSH: “Well, I do have a disagreement actually, Senator, with the president. I think even this morning, he said that he thought I was out of central casting. I think central casting, I'd look older, grayer, maybe show up here with a cigar of sorts.”WARREN: “Quite adorable. But, you know, we need a Fed chair who is independent. That's the only way we preserve the independence of the Federal Reserve. If you can't answer these questions, you don't have the courage and you don't have the independence.”In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee that quickly hinted at major changes to come at a Warsh-led Fed, the 56-year-old lawyer and financier blamed the central bank for an inflation surge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to hurt U.S. households.Warsh's hearing quickly turned contentious. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed Warsh on his independence and "courage", saying President Donald Trump had made clear Warsh would be his "sock puppet".
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Size of Starbucks workforce in Nashville announced
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Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
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The Death of Public Health
During the recent measles outbreak, the largest in more than 30 years, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to clearly recommend the measles vaccine, saying instead that it was a “personal decision,” and that parents should “do their own research.” Similarly, during her recent confirmation hearing for United States Surgeon General, Casey Means was questioned by Senator William Cassidy (R, La). “You’re the nation’s doctor,” said Cassidy. “Would you encourage [a mother] to have her child vaccinated!” “I’m not an individual’s doctor,” Means said. “And every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication in their body.” In June 2025, Marty Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said that COVID vaccines for pregnant women should be a “personal choice”, even though every other country in the world recommended the COVID vaccine during pregnancy due to a higher risk for severe disease. It doesn’t end there. On January 5, 2026, RFK Jr. reduced the number of routinely recommended vaccines from 18 to 10. For vaccines that protected against influenza, COVID, and rotavirus, parents were urged to speak with their doctors—to make an individual choice. (On March 16, 2026, in a ruling by a federal court in Boston, RFK Jr.’s revised schedule was invalidated.) What’s happening? Why are public health officials moving away from making recommendations for the public? The origin of this change might be rooted in the first two years of the COVID pandemic. In 2020, during the first year on the pandemic, we didn’t have anything to stop a virus that was killing hundreds of people a day and could be spread asymptomatically. We didn’t have antivirals until October, monoclonal antibodies until November, and vaccines until December. All we could do was restrict travel, close businesses, shutter schools, and mask, isolate, quarantine, test, and social distance. During the second year of the pandemic, when we had vaccines to prevent COVID, people couldn’t go anywhere without their vaccine cards. They couldn’t go to their favorite bar or restaurant or sporting event or place of worship without proof of vaccination. Some people were fired from their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. For many, this was seen as massive government overreach and energized what has been called the “medical freedom movement.” Indeed, a headline in the New York Times declared, “How Health Freedom Became a Winning Rally Cry.” As expressed in the comments of RFK Jr., Casey Means, and Marty Makary, the medical freedom movement focuses on the individual not the community—the opposite of public health. In an article titled “Ethics and Social Value Judgments in Public Health,” ethicists from Yale University distinguished public health from medical freedom. “Public health policies,” they wrote, “are population oriented. Because individual health affects the health of others, public health measures regulate individual behavior to achieve population health goals. All raise questions about how individual autonomy and freedom should be balanced against public health interests…which respects individuals’ sovereignty over their bodies and actions as long as their actions do not harm others.” The medical freedom movement fails to recognize that it often limits the freedom of others. For example, a parent who is afraid to send a child to school where many of the students are unvaccinated. Or immune compromised children who depend on those around them to for protection. The question then becomes “Freedom for whom?” Is it your right, in the name of medical freedom, to catch and transmit a potentially fatal infection—and in so doing, take away the freedom of others? In Four Essays on Liberty, Isaiah Berlin sums it up best. “Liberty for the wolves,” he wrote, “is death to the lambs.” Thanks for reading Beyond the Noise! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe
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