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Kentucky Sues Mayday Health Over Abortion Pill Advertising
Kentucky is the latest state to take action against the nonprofit Mayday Health for advertising that points people to a website providing information about abortion-inducing drugs.
CVS Health Ventures looks beyond healthcare for its next bets
CVS Health Ventures has evolved from a $100m venture unit into a broader investment platform combining financial discipline with a mandate to drive strategic change across CVS Health.
Yankees news: George Lombard Jr. could return against Padres
Lombard’s return looks imminent; Wells rebounds after nightmarish start to season; Yanks gear up for stretch run.
Srikanth loses in China Masters quarters; Anahat Singh in London Squash Classic QF: Indian Sports LIVE, September 4
Here are all the updates from Indian sports on September 4, 2026.
Michael Lombardi resigns as North Carolina football GM amid school investigation
North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi has resigned, ending the tenure of an immediate hire in Bill Belichick’s NFL-to-college coaching transition who had been on on paid administrative leave as the subject of a school investigation.
Michigan Supreme Court clears ballot measure restricting business political giving
The court said it was not persuaded to grant injunctive relief sought by a coalition of business groups and companies and Jim Holcomb of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Michigan Supreme Court clears ballot measure restricting business political giving
The court said it was not persuaded to grant injunctive relief sought by a coalition of business groups and companies and Jim Holcomb of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Suspended UNC football GM Michael Lombardi resigns amid complaint, investigation
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Michael Lombardi’s tenure at the University of North Carolina was a short one. The Tar Heels’ football general manager resigned from his position on Thursday, according
Yankees' George Lombard Jr. Might Be Starting to Feel It
New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. is getting his first taste of a pennant race.
Bill Belichick’s general manager resigns amidst investigation
Back in July, North Carolina Tar Heels football general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on paid leave in the wake of an internal investigation. Now, he has officially resigned from his post. Less than a week after North Carolina officially began its season with a win over TCU, they will now be without their general…
North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi resigns amid internal investigation
Bill Belichick's right-hand man Michael Lombardi is out, with the GM resigning one game into the season amid an internal investigation from UNC.
UNC football GM Lombardi resigns
Lombardi, who came to UNC in December 2024 with head coach Bill Belichick, was suspended on July 27 due to an investigation.
Michael Lombardi out as UNC’s football general manager
Michael Lombardi, a longtime confidant of North Carolina football head coach Bill Belichick, was placed on paid administrative leave in late July. He is no longer with the football program.
Carla Jeffery’s family denies drugs played a part in Disney Channel star’s death
The “Zombies” star died at the age of 33 on Wednesday.
Carla Jeffery’s family denies drugs played a part in Disney star’s death
Carla Jeffery, known for Disney Channel’s ‘Zombies,’ died at the age of 33 on Wednesday; a cause of death was not immediately revealed.
Foldable iPhone Ultra: The Latest Rumors Before Apple's Event
We're less than a week away from the debut of Apple's first foldable iPhone, and rumors have been picking up as the event date approaches. Here's the latest. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. MagSafe - Even though foldable iPhone dummies we saw earlier this year didn't have a MagSafe ring, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims all signs indicate MagSafe charging will be supported.
My Favorite Sleeper Sports Watch Gets a Performance-Minded Makeover
H. Moser & Cie. continues its partnership with Alpine Motorsports by launching a new Streamliner combining a ceramic case and a tourbillon.
Hands-On With Fable’s Combat: Lightning Bolts, Fireballs, And Dismemberment
Let’s go hands-on in a full Fable quest to see whether the controversy is actually justified
Blue Ridge Health plans new medical facility in Hendersonville
WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Asheville, NC and nearby towns and communities in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina, including the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Haywood, Polk, Transylvania, McDowell, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, Union, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville and also Biltmore Forest, Woodfin, Leicester, Black Mountain, Montreat, Arden, Weaverville, Hendersonville, Etowah, Flat Rock, Mills River, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Franklin, Cullowhee, Sylva, Cherokee, Marion, Old Fort, Forest City, Lake Lure, Bat Cave, Spindale, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Burnsville, Tryon, Columbus, Marshall, Mars Hill, Brevard, Bryson City, Cashiers, Greer, Landrum, Clemson, Gaffney, and Easley.
NVIDIA PAIR Turns Your Idle Home PCs Into A Local AI Cluster, Killing $1,200-Per-Month Cloud API Bills
NVIDIA has introduced PAIR, a new way to combine and distribute AI inference across your home devices without any hardware installation.
Anker is combining its Eufy, Soundcore, and brands into two ‘Anker’ groups
At IFA 2026, Anker is not only unveiling a bunch of new products, but also announcing that it is merging...
Michael Bloomberg Gives $155 Million to Museum of Science, Boston for New Civic Wing
Michael Bloomberg has donated $155 million to the Museum of Science, Boston through Bloomberg Philanthropies, funding a new public venue designed to bring... Read More
Iran targets Kuwait in retaliation for U.S. bombardments
It came after U.S. allies Bahrain and Jordan said their air defense systems also intercepted several Iranian air attacks Wednesday
Guild Wars 3's devs think they've found an answer to one of MMOs' biggest problems, but can ArenaNet pull it off?
I saw a hands-off demo for Guild Wars 3 at Gamescom, where studio head Colin Johanson and combat lead Kevin Stocker talked me through the new momentum feature.
India grapples with 'endemic' age-fraud menace in sports
No fewer than 500 wrestlers were disqualified from India's under-17 championships for age fraud in June, highlighting a scourge experts believe is baked into the country's sporting culture and needs to be combated in the same way as doping.
NCAA clears Cincinnati in Brendan Sorsby sports betting probe
The NCAA has cleared the University of Cincinnati of any wrongdoing in its handling of former quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
Seattle-based software maker cuts 117 jobs after acquiring another company
Qualtrics, a Seattle-based survey-software maker, is cutting 117 employees after acquiring another company in a multibillion-dollar deal.
Yankees' George Lombard: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Yankees' George Lombard: Not in Wednesday's lineup
Carla Jeffery, ‘Zombies’ and ‘Shake It Up’ actress, dies at 33
Carla Jeffery, the actress known for playing the bubbly cheerleader Bree in the Disney Channel’s hit ‘Zombies’ franchise, has died at 33.
Budget deal puts political control of grants on hold until December
Congress pauses the OMB's attempt to rewrite how research is funded.
ASU's Matthew Mayich had heat stroke, lack of oxygen to brain
Matthew Mayich, the Arizona State hockey player and Blues draft pick who collapsed in an offseason workout suffered exertional heat stroke that reduced the flow of oxygen to his brain, his attorney told ESPN.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Fixes the Sequel’s Biggest Flaw, but Combat Still Fights the Player for Control
We went hands-on with Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen at gamescom 2026, checking out the new features and content in the upcoming DLC.
These Russian Mathematicians Taught AI Models How to Talk to Each Other Without Using Words
A startup called Mostik has a wild new approach to combining the capabilities of AI models.
The science behind an ambitious cancer strategy
Advances in therapeutic approaches, combinations and the use of technology are fundamentally changing the way we think about cancer care.
Five Things We Just Learned From Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis Previews
Somehow Crystal Dynamics managed to include additions even more unnecessary than crafting and skill trees
Ace Combat 8 reveals live service online multiplayer modes that include PvE, PvP, PvPvE battles, and a hangout space
Bandai Namco has revealed the full scope of its Ace Combat Online online modes, including PvP, PvE, and a social space for player avatars.
Lambeau Field to host Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State hockey
The Travel Wisconsin Frozen Tundra Faceoff will feature a college hockey doubleheader Feb. 20 with Wisconsin men's and women's hockey, Michigan and OSU.
Exclusive: Fanatics combines betting apps
The all-in-one app comes as competition heats up amid the prediction markets boom.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis’s gamescom Demo Shows a Classic Reimagined with a Scanner, a Grapple, and a Skill Tree
At gamescom 2026, the developers of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis demonstrated the Greece level with brand new features and tools.
Legacy of Atlantis isn't even out yet, but already this Tomb Raider remake feels like an old relic - in all the wrong ways
Last year, on a bit of a whim, I ended up playing Tomb Raider 1's superb remaster and Crystal Dynamics' 2007 remake Tom…
Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis' Beautiful Visuals Can't Quite Hide Its Weird Changes
The reimagined world of Tomb Raider looks great, but that's where my praise has to end.
WCU political expert explains Rep. Edwards' censure, breaks down overwhelming vote
WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Asheville, NC and nearby towns and communities in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina, including the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Haywood, Polk, Transylvania, McDowell, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, Union, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville and also Biltmore Forest, Woodfin, Leicester, Black Mountain, Montreat, Arden, Weaverville, Hendersonville, Etowah, Flat Rock, Mills River, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Franklin, Cullowhee, Sylva, Cherokee, Marion, Old Fort, Forest City, Lake Lure, Bat Cave, Spindale, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Burnsville, Tryon, Columbus, Marshall, Mars Hill, Brevard, Bryson City, Cashiers, Greer, Landrum, Clemson, Gaffney, and Easley.
“Broken heart syndrome” can look just like a heart attack. This test can tell them apart
“Broken heart syndrome” can mimic a heart attack so closely that patients often need invasive testing to tell the difference. Researchers have now developed the BioTAK score, which combines biological sex with blood biomarkers to identify the condition before cardiac catheterization. In a validation study of nearly 1,800 patients, it correctly classified almost 90% of participants.
Who CFB coaches think will win the title, plus the Angels sale
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Combine for 35 hits today. Coming up: 🗣️ Ducks, Tigers dominate gossip ⛓️💥 Congrats to Angels fans 👑 NFL 50 under 40 Right now, the texts I want to read most are the ones college football coaches are sending to each other. There’s always an inherent interest there, as these are quite famous men who have to play things straight in front of microphones and cameras for most of the week. What are they gossiping about in...
Celtic chase full-back Lotomba
Celtic linked with a host of new arrivals as Rangers await bids for star midfielder...
A search for one exotic particle uncovered two strange new structures
A search for one mysterious particle unexpectedly revealed evidence for two different structures that may belong to the bizarre family of exotic subatomic particles known as XYZ states. The findings could help physicists uncover new ways that quarks and gluons combine to create matter.
William Jewell College: RB Barnett had no known health condition
MicahJo Barnett was immediately attended to by multiple onsite medical workers with AEDs, William Jewell College's interim president said.
What Box Office Bomb Crushed Obsession on Streaming?
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get into this week’s issue, let me ask you for some suggestions. At the risk of coining too many names for too many things (hence my dictionary of terms...), I need a name for straight-to-streaming films that are too expensive to justify a straight-to-streaming release, but not big enough to justify a theatrical release. Like some of the films I highlighted in last week’s tally of the biggest film flops of 2026 so far: Hulu’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Pizza Movie or Never Change! They don’t feel like “made for TV movies” (think Hallmark and Lifetime movies, cheap Netflix romcoms, or Disney Channel Original movies, for example) but they don’t feel big enough for the big screen. They’re not “cinematic” enough, so to speak. As I wrote... “I still need a name for this middle zone of film that’s too expensive to go straight-to-streaming but too small to justify a theatrical release (with all the PR, distribution, marketing and whatnot costs that go along with it), the Goldilocks zone of streaming film death.” Friend of the newsletter Brandon Katz has suggested the “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”. I love that first one. I’d offer up the much wordier “The Streaming Budget Dead Zone” or “the Goldilocks Zone of streaming film death” but that last one isn’t accurate since, unlike Goldilocks’ porridge, these films are the opposite of “just right”. That’s the problem! Anyway, if you have any suggestions, let me know! On to today’s Streaming Ratings Report. As you can tell by today’s headline, things are going to be spicy! I’m looking at a box office bomb that did really, really well on streaming, somewhat challenging a few different narratives. And another Netflix series declined in its second season. All that, plus Wicked: For Good switching streamers, The Hawk continuing its strong run, _The Bear’_s finale season finally dropping off the charts, the WNBA posting a big viewership number, “shallow libraries”, a sitcom spinoff failing to launch, more big budget IP flopping on Paramount+, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of July 20th to July 26th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - The Latest Theatrical Success Story on Streaming In the latest edition of “Flops, Bombs and Misses of the First Half of 2026”, I made a crucial change: I started including theatrical films with the streaming misses. The streamers have collectively—including Netflix, but not to as big of an extent—stopped making a lot of straight-to-streaming films, and the ones they do make aren’t as expensive as in the heyday of the streaming bubble. After the following two films bombed in theaters, you’d guess that they’ll be included in my next collection of flops, bombs and misses six months from now: Masters of the Universe on Prime Video (only $64 million domestic box office) Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max ($79 million domestic) But you’d be wrong! Masters of the Universe, a reboot of the He-Man franchise, a toy from the 1980s, came to streaming on 22-July and did great! This long-gestating project—it’s been at every studio for years, and came close to getting a greenlight at Netflix—then finally came to theaters in June, and showed up on streaming less than two months later. (I don’t love this short theatrical window.) It surprisingly grabbed nearly 20 million hours on its debut: That means, wait for it, Masters of the Universe is currently the eighth biggest film on streaming through two weeks. My rough bar for “hit” is shows or films in the top 15%. Ergo…Masters of the Universe is a legit, streaming hit! (One quick caveat: if it falls out of the top ten next week, it will move to 13th overall, just on the edge of the top 15.) Of course, that’s the data for just 2026. Here’s how it stacks up to Prime Video’s theatrical films: That drop into its second week is typical for Amazon films, but also a worrying sign. I have a feeling interest in this film is front-loaded and we’ll see it drop off after this. As for Mortal Kombat II, in this case, the viewership numbers roughly match the theatrical outing, with only 4.1 million hours in its first week. Here’s how it stacks up to other HBO Max films: The best defense of this number is that, as a relatively violent rated-R film, Mortal Kombat II never had a good chance at breaking out. So now it’s time for a little big of “Entertainment Nuance Guy”: First, yeah, my headline is obviously facetious, since Masters of the Universe besting Obsession says more about horror as a genre than it does that film. Second, I read and listened to quite a few “nobody wanted this IP” takes about Masters of the Universe, and that’s not really true. At least enough people wanted it to power a 20 million+ hour debut! Third, both this film and Mortal Kombat II were considered “average” by viewers, but not great films, with a 6.4 and 6.3 respectively on IMDb. That’s just shy of the level needed to be a word-of-mouth hit. Fourth, in the olden days, strong word of mouth could transform a box office miss into a cable/DVD hit, like Austin Powers or The Shawshank Redemption. We haven’t seen a lot of examples of that on streaming, though. And there are far fewer ways to monetize the post-theatrical life of a film these days. Fifth, Prime Video has shown an ability to push their own titles well, likely because they control the Amazon Fire TV ecosystem. Add it all up, and here’s my nuanced take on Masters of the Universe: it was a box office bomb, but, shockingly, a streaming hit. Unfortunately, while being a theatrical hit saves your film financially, being a streaming hit does not. Both Masters of the Universe and Mortal Kombat II had big budgets and needed to make more money in theaters to justify them. So…Straight-to-Streaming or Theaters? We’ve hit a really fun point in the streaming calendar, since the films that came out in theaters in April, May, and June are now arriving on streaming. So the “Do theatrical releases help streaming performances?” question is gonna get a fresh round of updates nearly every week. No single week will answer the question, but we may get some insights. For example, so far in 2026, it looks like theatrical films are lasting longer on the weekly Nielsen film charts. Here’s a list of films that have made the charts in their fourth or fifth week of release, separated by “for kids” and “general entertainment”: It certainly seems like theatrical films are lasting just a pinch longer on the charts, with Project Hail Mary being the current five-week champion. One Battle After Another did well for HBO Max too, and even The Sheep Detectives made it four weeks. The only exception to this trend? Obsession, which only lasted two weeks on the charts. You might tempted to overreact to this news. Don’t. Obsession is a huge horror hit, but horror just doesn’t do as well on streaming. By the way, here’s the Google Trends for various theatrical and stremaing films: Plus, when it comes to Netflix in four months, Obsession may have another big boost. Quick Notes on Film Note that when I write, “the streamers have pulled back on straight-to-streaming films” that doesn’t mean “abandoned” because Netflix is gonna Netflix. On 24-July, they released 72 Hours, a Kevin Hart comedy. Along with Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, John Cena and Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart is a streaming film star now. Did this latest one work? Not really. It only garnered two weeks of 13.2 and 12.2 million hours on its debut, well below the 20-million-hour hit threshold. It also was poorly received critically—a 44 on Metacritic—and by customers—a 5.4 on IMDb on 21K IMDb reviews. We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… The latest Netflix true crime doc to pop on the charts… How The Bear finished its run… Netflix’s latest Western to return to streaming… What Paramount+ animated film flopped… And what sitcom also missed… All the flops, bombs and misses… And a whole lot more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! I’m behind by a week, so we’ve got two issues coming your way this week, including one in a couple of days or so, then we’ll be all caught up**.** Next issue, inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to Peacock, I’m going to take a look at the workhouse of streaming TV: kids films. Plus The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues theatrical films’ big run on streaming. All that, plus another surprise hit on Hulu, Lioness on CBS, and a whole lot more. Long term, LeBron James is filming his own “Last Dance”-style docu-series, surprising no one. But as I’ve been writing about a lot this summer, this genre is really overrated, so whoever ends up buying it (reportedly ESPN) really shouldn’t pay too much for it.
Former Texas Tech WR suing NCAA over ban for sports betting
Former Texas Tech wide receiver Roy Alexander is suing the NCAA in an effort to overturn a six-game suspension he received for betting on sports.
Farm Science Review connects agriculture's past and future
Walk the grounds of Farm Science Review (FSR) this September, and you can move through generations of agriculture in a matter of minutes. Combines work the fields, researchers turn plots into living laboratories, and farmers gather around new equipment to see what might make a difference back hom
Foldable iPhone Ultra Likely Has MagSafe Charging
Apple's foldable "iPhone Ultra" will likely support MagSafe charging, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in an interview with Tom's Guide. iPhone Ultra dummy models that surfaced in April didn't include a MagSafe ring, while dummies of the iPhone 18 Pro did. Leaked cases for the device did have a MagSafe ring, making it unclear whether it would support MagSafe charging. "All indications that I've heard is that MagSafe is in for this foldable phone.
Kroenke to buy controlling interest in Angels from Moreno
Stan Kroenke has reached an agreement to acquire controlling interest in the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno.
Ex-NFL QB, CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo pleads no contest to OWI
Ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS Sports lead football analyst Tony Romo pleaded no contest to OWI charges in Milwaukee. He will have driving privileges revoked for six months and will seek help from a team of doctors.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve ‘Online 101’ trailer
Publisher Bandai Namco and developer Bandai Namco Aces have released a new trailer for flight action game Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve introducing the game’s online modes.
Sanford Health, North Memorial Health complete partnership
The combined health system will keep essential services at Robbinsdale Hospital while building stronger rural-urban care across Minnesota.
Kustom Entertainment to Acquire TFL, Expanding Integrated Live Event Ticketing and Festival Platform
Kustom Entertainment announced the acquisition of TFL, enhancing its ticketing capabilities and expected to boost revenue and profitability immediately.Quiver AI SummaryKustom Entertainment, Inc. announced its acquisition of TFL, LLC, a leading ticketing distribution and live event technology platform, through a definitive Unit Purchase Agreement. This strategic move is expected to enhance Kustom's festival production capabilities by combining it
Kustom Entertainment, Inc. Enters Into an Agreement to Acquire TFL, LLC (dba Tickets For Less)
Transformational Acquisition is Expected to Combine Kustom’s Music Festival Platform with Ticketing & Distribution Engine; Expected to be Immediately...
11 movies coming to Netflix in September 2026, including Jacob Tremblay’s “Unabomber”
The streamer’s September lineup also includes a documentary about viral Olympic breaker Raygun.
Ocean Race Atlantic Combines Sailing, Speed, Adventure, And Science In A Very Cool Way
The inaugural Ocean Race Atlantic 2026, is a high-speed transatlantic sprint from New York City to Lorient, France that leaves September 2
Tim Cook is out as Apple CEO, showed us how to succeed a legend
Apple's newly departed CEO, Tim Cook, beat the odds as Steve Jobs' successor by combining his strengths and judgment with Jobs' values.
‘Most’ of Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor was furloughed ahead of launch
Last week was meant to be a moment of triumph for Bit Reactor, the Maryland-based game studio founded in 2021 with ambitions to create a great new tactical combat game. On Thursday, August 27, Bit Reactor’s debut title, Star Wars Zero Company, released to stellar reviews. And, from the Gamescom show in Cologne, Germany, studio co-founder Greg Foertsch was giving interviews discussing what the studio’s next game may be. But for many developers on the game, launch has been bittersweet. Fans love it. Critics prefer it to most recent Star Wars games. Zero Company, which is out for PS5, Xbox Series consoles and PC, is the top-selling game on Steam. Much of the team that made it, however, is currently going without pay. They were furloughed, just weeks ahead of the game’s launch. A rep for Bit Reactor confirmed to Game File today that the studio had furloughed many of its workers prior to the game’s release. They said it was a difficult decision and one that had been made before it was clear how launch would go. The rep emphasized that the call to do this was Bit Reactor’s alone (meaning not from publisher EA nor Star Wars license holder Disney). While the rep declined to comment on the scale of the furloughs, a previously unreported lawsuit brought by studio co-founder Alison Kelly in 2024 noted in a filing from August 12 of this year that Bit Reactor “has furloughed most of its employees and terminated contractors…” One source told Game File the furloughs impacted 80% of the team; another referred to there only being a skeleton crew left on Bit Reactor’s active payroll, ready to address any of Zero Company’s post-launch bugs. The issue is that Bit Reactor, a studio formed in 2021, had run out of most of its money just ahead of the launch of its first game. Over the weekend, Zachariah Scott, a senior technical artist who worked at Bit Reactor from early 2023 until an acrimonious exit this past May, said on LinkedIn that the studio was “concealing the fact that the team was Furloughed weeks ago.” Reached by phone today, Scott told Game File that he spoke to nearly a dozen Bit Reactor workers over the weekend. “Everybody has essentially the same story, which is, ‘Yeah, I got furloughed three weeks ago.” The Bit Reactor rep told Game File that the studio hoped to bring furloughed workers back, suggesting that a successful launch of the game could be impactful. Scott told Game File that workers he spoke to were less confident that even if there were returns, that all who were furloughed would get their old jobs again. A heated dispute Bit Reactor’s mid-2026 was almost even more tumultuous. The lawsuit by co-founder Alison Kelly that first revealed the furloughs was initially slated to go to trial in June. The suit is a she-said/he-said about whether Kelly, until 2024 the chief operating officer of Bit Reactor, was a co-owner of the studio or whether it was solely owned by Greg Foertsch. In July 2024, Kelly sued, saying she was pushed out by Foertsch. She first sued in federal court and later refiled in Maryland’s Baltimore County, alleging breach of contract and that Foertsch had unjustly enriched himself. Kelly cited damages of over $20 million, on the basis of Bit Reactor allegedly being worth more than double that. Foertsch’s side has said Kelly was never a co-owner and has countered with claims about her job performance (which she has denied). The June trial was postponed until early 2027, as both sides have been deposing witnesses and filing more claims and denials along the way. Amid all of that, filings in the lawsuit reviewed by Game File paint a picture about Bit Reactor’s origins, early aspirations around tactics games, the team’s breakthrough in drawing the attention of Electronic Arts with the help of a pitch tied to one of EA’s non-Star Wars franchises, and early fractures among its co-founders. The real story about the company behind Zero Company
PS5 Officially Has 5 GOTY Contenders Coming in September
Too many new games, too little time
GTA 6 Gets Even More New Screenshots as Rockstar Locks in for November Launch
It seems the drought of Grand Theft Auto 6 news has finally come to an end, as Rockstar has published even more screenshots for fans to comb through.
49ers, Chargers top sports world poking fun at man who posed as 49ers player
Since two men were arrested with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, the story has dominated social media, with even athletes and sports teams chiming in.
WATCH: Vance says Trump likes to 'switch it up' by posting AI video of Kharg Island bombing
Lawmakers walk out during Wyoming Business Council reform talks
by Dustin Bleizeffer, WyoFile At least five lawmakers walked out of a rare combined hearing of two separate legislative committees Friday morning after
Lawmakers walk out during Wyoming Business Council reform talks
by Dustin Bleizeffer, WyoFile At least five lawmakers walked out of a rare combined hearing of two separate legislative committees Friday morning
Lawmakers walk out during Wyoming Business Council reform talks
by Dustin Bleizeffer, WyoFile At least five lawmakers walked out of a rare combined hearing of two separate legislative committees Friday morning after convening to compare notes on overlapping bills aimed at reforming the Wyoming Business Council. The future of the state’s top economic development shop has stakes for how prepared Wyoming communities are to host […]
CCIA Files Comments to Japan Fair Trade Commission on its Updated Business Combination Guidelines
Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association submitted comments to the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) in response to its request
Livestream: Vice President Vance delivers remarks at Republican political event in Macomb County
Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Macomb County Monday afternoon.
MAD: Omnicom Combines Mediahub, Hearts & Science
The new agency network operates across 40 markets and represents approximately $9.1 billion in 2025 billings. It will be led in the U.S. by Nicole Estebanell, who previously served as CEO of Mediahub U.S.
Michael Bloomberg honors his late parents with $155 million donation
Michael Bloomberg donated $155M to Museum of Science Boston. Plus, Ballmer gave $125M for children's behavioral health research.
Tulane Ventures brings behavioral health company to New Orleans
Tulane Ventures has invested $250,000 in Cabana, a behavioral health platform co-founded by a Tulane alumnus, as part of a $1 million seed round that also includes 1834 Ventures.Cabana combines clinical care, community groups and tech-enabled support to embed behavioral health support — outside of medical appointments — in the lives of patients battling physical ailments.
Bellevue Alum Boosts Violence Intervention with AI
Barbara Gaskins, a Bellevue University alumna, is combining expertise in criminal justice, re-entry, community violence intervention, and data science to improve outcomes for people impacted by incarceration and violence.After earning her bachelor's and master's degrees from Bellevue University, Gaskins gained the credentials, confidence and tec...
Trump’s deals in Africa could cut U.S. health aid by more than half, analysis shows
The planned reductions — targeting programs that combat the spread of deadly diseases — coincide with an administration push to make developing nations spend more.
Celebrating Gregg Allman at the Wheeler
Wednesday event combines live music, film screening, panel
AI streamlines search for new ceramics that generate electricity
To streamline the search for new piezoelectric materials, or those that emit an electric charge when manipulated, a team led by materials science researchers at Penn State introduced a new framework that combines an existing artificial intelligence model with human expertise and experimentation.
Sankey, SEC 'prepared to contest' judge's order in Louisiana
While the SEC said it will comply with an order that prohibits commissioner Greg Sankey from issuing punishment if they roster a player who returns from a pro contract, the league said, in a Sunday statement to ESPN, it will defend its rights in court.
“Coyote vs. Acme” surges past expectations, snagging No. 2 at domestic box office after cancellation controversy
Elsewhere, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” continues to dominate in week 5, Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” brutally bombs, and A24’s “Tony” holds strong.
HEALTH ALERT: Measles exposure reported in Buncombe County, NCDHHS officials say
Officials were informed of a measles case in a resident of another state who traveled through Asheville while infectious.
Officials: Measles case reported in Asheville hotel
North Carolina state health officials report a case of measles in Buncombe County with potential exposure at a hotel in Asheville.
Health officials investigate possible measles exposure in Buncombe County
North Carolina health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure in Asheville.
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Colorado Sues EarnIn For “Immoral, Unethical, Oppressive and Unscrupulous” Business Practices
Hey all, Jason here. When this hits your inbox, I should be en route to the airport — not to go anywhere myself, just to pick up my better half. I must admit, it’s been strange to be home alone (well, with two dogs) for two weeks! Really lets me “optimize” to spending more time on reading/writing/working, whether that’s healthy or not! Looking forward to getting back into a (somewhat) more balance routine. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading Compare Notes With the People Who Built Modern Fintech Partner content: Remitly CEO Sebastian Gunningham. Increase founder Darragh Buckley. Linda Du, Co-founder & President at Valon. They’ll unpack the decisions behind building and scaling major financial products: what they got right, what broke, what they would do differently, and how AI and new infrastructure are changing the operator playbook. Most events tell you where fintech is going. NerdCon puts the people who built the present in the room and asks them what comes next. Expect an operator-led conversation grounded in real products, real trade-offs and lessons earned the hard way. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% on Regular tickets with code FBW20 before standard pricing ends September 11. Meet the Builders Things To Know & Other Good Reads Advent and Stripe Abandon $50 Billion Pursuit of PayPal (Bloomberg) Trump Family’s New Crypto Bank Is Backed by Abu Dhabi Sheikh (Wall Street Journal) The multiplying risks of financing data centres (FT) Let the Bond Market Speak (Wall Street Journal) Did we waste a crisis? Modest proposals to reform deposit insurance. (Fintech Takes Banking) Untangling Guggenheim: How Private Credit Built Its Own Universe (Net Interest) The Hater’s Guide To Circular Financing — Part One (Ed Zitron) Fiat Ventures Rebrands to FGV Capital, Announces $35M Oversubscribed Fund II (BusinessWire) Socure Announces Strategic Growth Investment at $5.2B Valuation and Acquires Agentic Operations Platform Fravity (Socure) Listen: When Consumer Protection Disclosures Work Too Well (Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast) Colorado Sues EarnIn For “Immoral, Unethical, Oppressive and Unscrupulous” Business Practices When Andreessen Horowitz led EarnIn’s $39 million Series B in 2017, Alex Rampell, a partner at the storied venture capital firm, described EarnIn’s small-dollar advance product as “free,” relying on “entirely on voluntary contributions instead of fees.” Rampell favorably compared EarnIn’s approach to typical payday loans, writing, “Payday loans historically have had the potential to be a slippery slope for consumers into financial distress: opaque systems and steep fees that are hard to repay and set individuals back further than where they started. For many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, that kind of slide into debt can be extremely difficult to recover from.” But EarnIn’s product — which, the company says, isn’t a “loan,” legally speaking — ends up being anything but free for most users. While it is technically possible to take a no-fee advance from the company, most users incur “Lightning Speed” (instant funding) fees and/or ostensibly optional tips that combined can equate to annualized percent rates that can reach over 1,000%. With an average term of 9.77 days, even fees and tips that are small on an absolute dollar basis are equivalent to high APRs on an annualized basis. A lawsuit filed last week by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser against EarnIn describes the company and its product and business practices quite differently than Andreessen’s Rampell; “EarnIn’s business practices are unfair because they are immoral, unethical, oppressive and unscrupulous,” the complaint, filed in District Court in Denver, Colorado, says. EarnIn’s marquee product, Cash Out, isn’t a loan, the company says, as Cash Out is not “[f]orward [l]ooking” because “[t]he money is transferred based on earnings to date,” does not carry a mandatory fee to access funds, and is “non-recourse,” meaning EarnIn cannot pursue recovery from users who don’t repay advanced funds. EarnIn is sometimes referred to as an “Earned Wage Advance” service. Though, unlike some others in the broader category, EarnIn does not integrate with employers’ payroll or time and attendance systems. Rather, EarnIn attempts to verify a user’s income and employment, by examining direct deposit transaction data in their linked external bank account, by using GPS location and Bluetooth data to estimate a user’s time spent at work, if they work in a fixed location, and/or by having a user provided a work email address. While repayment is theoretically optional, as EarnIn would have no recourse, such as reporting non-payment to the credit bureaus or a collections agency, this is anything but clear to users of the EarnIn app, Colorado’s complaint argues. During the process of taking a Cash Out, users must agree to a preauthorized debit of the amount advanced, plus any expedited funding fee and/or tips. Though users technically can revoke this ACH authorization, the fact that they have this right isn’t presented to users during the Cash Out process, but rather is included in linked terms and conditions few users are likely to actually read. And users who do wish to revoke their ACH authorization must do so three or more days before the scheduled transaction date by emailing EarnIn’s customer support. Similarly, EarnIn’s marketing claims that it carries “no interest” and “no mandatory fees” is technically true, but is not the reality for many of the app’s users, the Colorado complaint argues. Further, EarnIn has extensively marketed to users the ability to “access your pay today,” to get “instant” funds, and to get funds “the same day you work” — when, in reality, this speed of access was only possible by paying the additional, undisclosed Lightning Speed fee. The Colorado complaint highlights this contradiction specifically, noting: EarnIn tells consumers that they can ‘Make any day payday with EarnIn’ and that there no ‘hidden’ or ‘mandatory fees.’ For a consumer to access their pay on the same day requested, they would have to pay the Lightning Speed fee. In the fine print of the advertisement EarnIn discloses that ‘[f]ees apply to use Lightning Speed,’ a direct contradiction to the larger text of the advertisement, and a fact that would not be immediately understood by a consumer as ‘Lightning Speed’ is not defined nor explained. Like other small-dollar lending services, rather than explicitly charge interest, EarnIn collects a markup on the optional Lighting Speed fee, which, given the nature of the transactions, many users opt for, as well as offering users the option to leave “tips.” EarnIn leverages either Real-Time Payments (RTP) rails or push-to-card via debit rails if a user opts for the optional Lightning Speed. But while these capabilities cost EarnIn, on average, $0.075 or $0.20 per transaction, respectively, EarnIn charges users significantly more. Initially, EarnIn charged as little as $1.99 for Cash Outs up to $24. But EarnIn has hiked these fees multiple times, and now charges $4.99 for Cash Outs up to $75 and $6.99 for those over $75. According to the Colorado complaint, EarnIn leverages “dark patterns” to manipulate users and to make it more difficult to avoid tipping. Examples of these “road blocks” highlighted in the complaint include: As of 2023, in the EarnIn app, a consumer attempting to get a loan under the default settings had to make at least eighteen separate taps to complete the transaction and reduce the tip to $0. There is an alternative method to leave a $0 tip, via the “Custom tip” feature, but EarnIn made this option difficult to access by visually deemphasizing it and positioning it near devices’ “home” button. Using language and imagery such as “Tip to pay it forward,” “Your generosity supports the service + helps,” “Your tips make a difference,” and “[t]he APR for this cash out is 0%. Your tips help support us.” While Lightning Speed and tipping are, in theory, both optional, in practice, users nearly always ended up paying something. According to the Colorado suit, users were charged either a tip or an expedite fee for more than 92% of transactions, with an average APR of nearly 388%. And, although the advances are “non-recourse,” EarnIn successfully collects on nearly all transactions — 99.18%, according to the complaint, which, Colorado argues, “demonstrat[es] that EarnIn’s advances function as high cost loans, not voluntary payments.” The share of EarnIn users incurring fees — despite the product being marketed as 0% APR — is hard to reconcile with Andreessen investor Rampell’s favorable description of EarnIn vs. “opaque systems and steep fees” associated with payday loans, which, Rampell says, can be “extremely difficult” for borrowers to extricate themselves from. According to Colorado’s suit, EarnIn’s Cash Out product “trapped many consumers in extreme cycles of high-cost reborrowing.” The suit gives an example of one consumer in the state, who took out a whopping 1,151 loans, paying a total of $4,038.50 in Lightning Speed expedited funding fees on loans that averaged the equivalent of 1,421% APR. Another Colorado user, the suit says, took out 1,033 loans, paying $8,561.22 in tips and fees at an average APR of 1,539% . These types of usage patterns demonstrate “the severe and repeated financial harm caused by EarnIn’s illegal lending model,” the Colorado complaint argues. In aggregate, from January 2023 through July 2025, EarnIn extended 3.1 million loans to 56,778 users in Colorado — an average of nearly 55 transactions per person during the time period. EarnIn lent more than $300 million and collected more than $16 million from Colorado users in Lightning Speed fees and in tips. Ultimately, the Colorado complaint argues that “EarnIn’s Cash Outs are loans under Colorado law, and EarnIn’s contention that its product is not a loan based on its disclaimer of any legal repayment obligation lacks any real-world significance given how the Cash Out transactions actually operate in practice.” Colorado further argues that “EarnIn was not working with companies here in providing consumers with funds but acted as a third-party lender and charged illegally high rates, used deceptive design strategies to extract some charges, and trapped consumers in repeat borrowing. Colorado will continue to stand up for consumers and hold companies accountable when they violate our credit laws or attempt to evade them through misleading practices.” Colorado’s suit alleges EarnIn assesses finance charge in excess of that permitted by Colorado law, that EarnIn failed to make legally required disclosures to Colorado borrowers, that EarnIn made supervised loans to consumers without obtaining the requisite license, that EarnIn violated the state’s Deferred Deposit Loan Act, that EarnIn engage in unfair and deceptive trade practices, and that EarnIn made false or misleading statements concerning price. The suit seeks a court order enjoining EarnIn from violating relevant Colorado laws, for EarnIn to refund amounts charged in excess of state law, fees, costs, and penalties, and other relief the court deems to be just. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Q2 Quarterly Banking Profile: Five Quick Takeaways The FDIC released its quarterly banking profile, which is always worth a read, for the second quarter. The profile provides an aggregate snapshot about the overall health of the 4,238 institutions whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, who, collectively, hold more than $26 trillion in assets and saw a total net income of more than $90 billion in the second quarter. Net income was up 12% vs. Q1 2026, with lower provisions and realized gains on securities helping to drive the improvement, somewhat offset by increases in non-interest expense and applicable income taxes. Overall net interest margin was basically flat quarter over quarter (up 1 basis point vs. Q1 2026), though community banks saw NIM grow by 10 basis points, to 3.81%. Unsurprisingly, given that interest rates haven’t changed, unrealized losses on securities changed little, edging up slightly to $326.7 billion vs. $325.1 billion in Q1 2026. Aggregate credit quality has remained benign, with asset quality actually improving slightly in Q2. Overall, institutions reported a 9 basis point decline in their past-due and non-accrual rate, to 1.44%. Net charge off rate also declined by 2 basis points, to 0.57%. And finally, the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund stands at $161.1 billion, making the DIF reserve ratio 1.48% — above the statutory minimum of 1.35%, but still below the designated target reserve ratio of 2%. [Paid Subscriber Exclusive] Nissan Withdraws ILC App, State Associations Plan BankChain Alliance, FDIC Defines “Unsafe or Unsound Practice” For First Time Automaker Nissan withdrew its application to charter a Utah industrial loan company and its corresponding application to the FDIC for deposit insurance last week, on August 19th. 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