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Dodgers Trade For Fan Favorite Catcher Amid Injury Concerns

The Los Angeles Dodgers traded right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott to the New York Mets for catcher Ben Rortvedt at the trade deadline. The post Dodgers Trade For Fan Favorite Catcher Amid Injury Concerns appeared first on LA Sports Report.

Aug 3 • 2:04 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

If Not AOC, Then Who?

What do we do if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez decides not to run for president in 2028? It makes sense that many leftists are currently focused on calling on her to take the plunge. But the absence of a Plan B, or even much discussion about one, is worrisome. The US Left can’t afford to sit out the 2028 Democratic primary. Doing so in 2024 was a disaster: our abstention self-marginalized anti-billionaire politics from the national conversation and thereby gave space for Harris to pivot to the “center” (i.e. the policy preferences of corporate donors, establishment hacks, and AIPAC). Abstaining again in 2028 would be especially counterproductive since democratic socialists now have so much wind in our sails after our big electoral wins in NYC and across the country. It’s time to deepen our momentum, organization, and profile — not to retreat to the margins during America’s single most important political battle. Even more urgently, keeping Trump’s heir out of the White House may depend on whether leftists and the party’s unprecedentedly disenchanted base can force the Democrats in 2028 to take meaningful steps towards a very angry electorate and away from the corporate-consultant blob that has helped get us into this mess. If AOC (or Abdul El-Sayed) decides to run, we should enthusiastically go all in — DSA, fighting unions, progressive organizations, anybody who wants to see a better country and world. But, as far as I can tell from the outside, there’s a real chance that she doesn’t run. And we can’t just wait and see where she lands before discussing alternatives, since AOC’s decision might not come for quite a while, giving us little time to scramble at the last minute for an alternative. So we should start working now on getting a Plan B into motion, and recruiting a good candidate for the role. Here’s one idea. A Worker Candidate — Healthcare Not Warfare 2028 Run a union worker Leftists don’t need to always run experienced, well-known socialist politicians for high-profile contests. Lula, the current president of Brazil, began his political career as a metalworker militant who ran for governor of São Paulo in 1982. Especially in an era of institutional distrust, it’s possible to lean hard into making a virtue out of a working-class comrade’s distance from traditional politics. Experience abroad shows this clearly. Rachel Kéké — an immigrant hotel housekeeper — ran as the candidate of the leftist La France Insoumise for the National Assembly in 2022, defeating a former minister in the Macron government. The Belgian Workers’ Party in 2024 won its first Flemish seat in the European Parliament by running Rudi Kennes, a three-decade veteran of the Opel Antwerp auto factory. And the South Korean left in 2024 elected auto factory militant Yoon Jong-oh to the National Assembly. If a tiny French Trotskyist organization could make such a big splash in 2002 and 2007 by running a well-spoken postal worker cadre for office — the LCR’s Olivier Besancenot received about 1.5 million first-round votes — it’s not far-fetched to expect that a much larger organization like DSA, together with a broader coalition of the willing, could run this playbook to much greater effect. This is especially the case now that almost everything DSA does immediately becomes a national news story. We don’t need someone famous. We just need a charismatic, well-vetted comrade who works in a relatable working-class occupation — e.g. a nurse, or a worker in auto or construction, or at Amazon. Ideally, they have a compelling personal story or have been part of a significant strike or organizing campaign, but even those criteria don’t necessarily have to be deal-breakers. The main lesson of the Graham Platner fiasco isn’t that we should never run outsiders for office (the momentum he generated proves the exact opposite), but that they need proper vetting and roots in democratic membership organizations like DSA or a union. In any case, there are plenty of ways to signal working-class authenticity without resorting to Platner’s or Fetterman’s performative macho white dude affect. Better to have someone of any gender or race who is actually working class, with firm socialist politics, who can speak from experience about the day-to-day realities of trying to make it in America. There are surely at least a dozen such worker leaders in our movement nationwide; we just need to sit down and convince one that their personal sacrifice for the greater good (i.e. running for president) will be worth it. If we don’t have a frontrunner with a clear path to victory like AOC (or El-Sayed, were he to win Michigan), it’s better to embrace someone whose decision to run in itself tells an important story about US politics: workers have been iced out of our political system and are now fighting hard to break back in. The novelty factor, in itself, would generate press. And it would help democratic socialists signal to the American public that our movement’s defining characteristic is that we represent workers vs. bosses, not that we’re “the furthest left” force in American politics — a framework that suggests we’re extremists and that helps our opponents isolate us from non-college-educated voters by highlighting extremely minoritarian (and misguided) stances included in DSA’s platform like prison abolition. We don’t get many opportunities to speak to tens of millions of Americans; we need to use these opportunities to broaden our appeal beyond those already in our orbit. Run to polarize the 2028 primary and general election around “Medicare for All” and “End All Aid to Israel” Why should democratic socialists use our scarce time and volunteer energy to run in a race we’re unlikely to win? Running in the 2028 primary will not only recruit us scores of members (imagine having a DSA member intervening in eleven nationally televised primary debates!), but — more importantly — it has the potential to be a decisive leap forward towards an America that finally starts meeting the needs of working people instead of HMO and AIPAC billionaire donors. Polarizing litmus tests are good, actually — as long as they’re fought for around popular demands in a thoughtful and strategic way. Democratic socialists have an opportunity and responsibility to make the 2028 primary about two of the most widely and deeply felt issues of our moment: domestically, America’s unaffordable, family-breaking private healthcare system; internationally, America’s bankrolling of the genocidal Israeli government. A candidacy relentlessly demanding Medicare for All and No Aid to Israel would pose a sharp question to the American public, the Democratic Party, and other 2028 contenders: Why can’t working-class Americans afford their healthcare bills at the same time that our government is spending at least $3.8 billion yearly to fund an Israeli regime eager to keep dragging us and the world into more forever wars? Our candidate can agitate around a clear message: I’m running to give voice to all those working-class Americans who are struggling to get by. No matter what state you live in, who you voted for in 2024, or your background, it’s just plain common sense that we should make healthcare more affordable instead of spending billions to enable the Israeli government’s crimes against humanity. Every American who agrees with me when I say ‘Medicare for All — Not a Dime for Israel’ should make their voice heard through our campaign. Racking up a high number of votes for this agenda is a crucial way to show the Democratic Party and the country as a whole that we can’t keep supporting a life-destroying status quo in our healthcare system and in the Middle East. If we want to defeat Trump’s handpicked crony this coming November, we need to speak to ordinary people’s frustrations with the status quo — we can’t keep running the same tired establishment playbook and expecting a different result. For those highly engaged voters (or skeptical media pundits) who raise concerns about wasting votes, the candidate can take the time to explain why this isn’t the case: It's true I'm a long shot. But Zohran showed anything can happen — and voting for me is a pragmatic decision, not a wasted vote. In a heavily divided primary with a large number of candidates and a very discredited establishment, my campaign and the democratic socialist movement I’m part of are positioned to be the balance of power if we can get a large enough number of voters to loudly demand Healthcare Not Warfare. Since there’s a high chance no candidate will get to 50% in the 2028 primaries, the Democrats could very well be heading towards a brokered convention, where a disciplined, principled current committed to breaking from corporate donors can play an outsized role in making sure whoever ends up with the nomination raises the banner of single-payer healthcare and cutting aid to Israel. How exactly could running this sort of primary campaign be translated into actual leverage? The candidate replies: I’m aiming to win the nomination, but if I don’t achieve that goal, my delegates and I will pledge our support in the primary only for a candidate who agrees in the general election to call for ending US aid to Israel and establishing Medicare for All at home. These are both winning planks for November against the Republicans, and the only reason I can see that other candidates haven’t yet raised these is that they’re still more scared of the donor class than they are of the people. That needs to change. If Democratic leaders want young people, workers, and those sick of the status quo to show up in big numbers this November, they need to meet us halfway. In this way, whether or not we win the nomination, democratic socialists could still play a decisive role in 2028. The approach outlined here is similar to what radical left parties periodically do in parliamentary democracies like Denmark or Sweden when they find themselves as a junior partner electorally: they dictate to center-left allies what their terms would be for enabling, from the outside, the formation of a new government. Running a Healthcare Not Warfare candidate will make it significantly more likely that the 2028 Democratic candidate stands with ordinary people instead of donors on these two pivotal planks — a shift that will, in turn, make it easier to achieve the existentially important task of defeating MAGA’s heir in November. Look at how much popular traction the Uncommitted movement got with a similar strategy in 2024 with so little on-the-ground organization — surely we can go much further with a working-class candidate, a much bigger DSA, and a Democratic Party base that has turned against Israel, billionaires, and the hacks in the party who prop them up. Objections and Responses There are quite a few objections to this proposal, many of which are very reasonable. Let me briefly address each here. Socialists shouldn’t waste their scarce time and resources on a candidate unlikely to win. This is a good rule in general, but there are important exceptions, and presidential elections are the main one. There’s no other political contest that gets anything like this level of attention and engagement in the US, so if you want to be a serious force in nationwide politics, you basically can’t afford not to have a candidate. Far from being an overall drain on our resources, running a dynamic 2028 campaign would likely result in a major net increase in members and capacity. In that spirit, the very pragmatic Milwaukee sewer socialists — who mostly ran to win at home in Wisconsin — supported Eugene Debs’s propagandistic presidential campaigns, which they correctly saw as a crucial means of recruiting to the Socialist Party. And now that the (post-1972) Democratic Party gives more weight to voters than party operatives in determining its presidential nomination, it’s become feasible to run as a socialist in primaries without risking a split in the vote against the Republicans in November. We should just support Ro Khanna, who also supports M4A and ending aid to Israel. I like Ro Khanna and would enthusiastically vote and canvass for him for president were he to get the nomination. But there’s a real chance that Khanna’s bid for office doesn’t catch on; he lacks the grassroots organizational apparatus of DSA, and, because he’s not really of the Left or labor (despite his current very good positions), he’s unlikely to generate the type of buy-in and enthusiasm that a DSA candidate would. Moreover, Khanna would be running as an individual, not as someone emerging from and building an organized movement — his campaign would not likely focus on building sustained power from below, nor would it likely polarize the 2028 primary around M4A and Israel aid. Also, and not inconsequentially, the poor electoral results for Tom Steyer and Saikat Chakrabarti this spring suggest that there’s perhaps not much of a popular appetite in the Democrats’ base to support multi-millionaire class traitors. Much better, then, to run a democratic socialist worker. If by Super Tuesday it’s clear that our campaign has captured the main left lane in the primary, Khanna should drop out and endorse us; conversely, if he’s managed to capture this lane, DSA could at that point transform its Healthcare Not Warfare campaign into an independent campaign to elect Ro Khanna focused on winning (and holding him accountable to) those two critical planks. An openness to consolidating an anti-corporate candidate by Super Tuesday is a necessary component of the strategy I’m proposing, because otherwise we risk splitting the primary votes (per DNC rules, you need at least 15% to get any delegates to convention). We should convince Shawn Fain or Sara Nelson to run for president instead. I agree it’d be great if either ran for president, but my impression is that there’s basically no chance that will happen in 2028, because both are firmly focused on their union leadership duties (and, in the case of Fain, beating back a federal witch-hunt). This plan could have DSA end up endorsing a non-socialist, non-DSAer for president. That’s against our principles. It’s a myth, and bad politics, that socialists can’t ever support candidates who aren’t members of their organization and/or who don’t call themselves socialists. Bernie, after all, was not a DSAer. And socialists abroad regularly make tactical decisions about if and when supporting a non-socialist candidate makes sense from the standpoint of promoting working-class interests, defending democracy, and building a socialist current in the process. If your “principles” prevent you and DSA from helping achieve the momentous stride forward of having a Democratic candidate in 2028 run on Medicare for All and ending aid to Israel, those “principles” are not very good. In fact, they actively undermine the causes they’re aiming to support. We shouldn’t confuse principles (working-class independence) with tactics (the best way to advance this in a given context). In my recent article in Catalyst on Milwaukee sewer socialism (I’ve uploaded the full text here), I have a section showing how similarly rigid rules about endorsements had to be eventually discarded in the old Socialist Party nationwide after WWI because they tended to lead socialists towards a sectarian abstention from broader anti-corporate electoral insurgencies beyond their party’s control. For what it’s worth, Lenin’s current under Tsarism frequently backed bourgeois candidates in the second round of elections and Lenin himself advocated that British Communists support Labour Party candidates; for his part, Kautsky in 1912 defended the German Social Democracy’s electoral pact with the Progressives in the runoffs. If our predecessors could be that tactically flexible in an era before the limits of their underlying strategic assumptions about intransigent class politics in capitalist democracies were made clear, then there’s no need to insist on being more tactically rigid today, after a century’s worth of accumulated experience. As long as you maintain your own political profile and organization while engaging in broader coalitional efforts, there’s zero inherent contradiction with the principle of political independence. More specifically: DSA and allied organizations should enthusiastically back Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed if AOC declines to run and he throws his hat in the presidential ring. (I have no idea whether he’s even considering this path, but there’ll surely be chatter about it if he wins his Senate race this November.) Though he doesn’t call himself a socialist, El-Sayed is a principled Berniecrat, a consistent fighter for Palestine, and would have a clear path to victory. Using the “s” word is far less important than whether a campaign fights for the interests of working people at home and abroad — and whether actively participating in it can grow the organized working class and the Left. And the same holds true if a less anti-corporate candidate were, under pressure, to adopt our two Healthcare Not Warfare planks. Why focus only on M4A and ending US aid to Israel? There are so many other important issues to fight for! Obviously there are many pivotal issues beyond healthcare and Israel, and our candidate — and especially our organizations involved in the campaign — should be prepared to speak on all of these. But one of the crucial lessons of the Zohran campaign is that you have to relentlessly stay on message if you want to cut through the noise. CNN and Fox News will want to talk about DSA’s views on Venezuela and abolishing the police; we need to polarize the debate on the widely and deeply felt issues that are most favorable for growing the Left, isolating our opponents, and winning urgently needed changes. One recent poll found 63% of Americans support M4A, even after respondents were told it would raise taxes and eliminate most private insurance. Another found that 74% of Democrats opposed “providing additional economic and military support to Israel.” And focusing on two demands sets the campaign up to be able to leverage its mandate to make clear demands upon other candidates (which we can’t do if we run with a laundry list of demands). Talking about a Plan B is a distraction from the more urgent work of building a groundswell of calls on AOC to run. It’s good for DSAers, fightback unionists, and progressive organizations to try to convince AOC to run. This proposal is meant as an addendum to pushes to get AOC to run and to line DSA up for that eventuality, not as a substitute for those efforts. But I’m worried that, like in 2024, we might eventually find ourselves with no time to find a viable alternative unless we start now. DSA, with its abundant deliberative processes, moves slowly. The approach you’re suggesting seems risky. If a DSA candidate runs but doesn’t receive a lot of votes, it’ll undercut our current national momentum. This is a reasonable worry. All big initiatives always carry risks, and the path I’m advocating is certainly not free of these. That said, if a Healthcare Not Warfare campaign doesn’t catch on like we envisioned, it’s a pretty simple pivot in March 2028 to explain that in the future we really need our standard-bearers like AOC, or our growing bench of national electeds, to step up in presidential primaries. Moreover, it’s worth noting that the risk of my Plan B proposal is on the whole significantly less than the risk entailed by an AOC run. We should all back her if she runs, since she’d fire up the base, provide huge openings for organizing, have a real shot at defeating a Republican (especially given MAGA’s unpopularity), be a great standard-bearer for our issues, particularly M4A and ending aid to Israel, and be less willing than mainstream candidates to capitulate to any anti-democratic machinations from Trump and co. But it’s also true that AOC could lose, which would be a devastating setback to the country and the Left. Or she could win and find herself unable to pass much, if any, of her (and our) program, a demoralizing prospect. So if we’re willing to take these risks with AOC (and we should), it follows that we should be able to take lower-level risks if she doesn’t throw her hat in the ring. What’s Your Plan B? The US Left is facing its biggest opening for growth and influence since the 1930s. Initiatives that would have been impossible a few months ago are now potentially feasible. A President AOC is now easier to imagine, but if she ultimately assesses that the risks aren’t worth the potential reward in 2028, we can’t be left flat-footed. So even if you’re not convinced by the specifics of my Plan B, I hope you can at least agree that it’d be a disaster for us not to have one — and not to start getting a Plan B into motion. Hopefully other organizers and political currents will put forward their responses and alternative ideas ASAP. The stakes are too high to just wait and see. More As always, please share this article widely. This newsletter depends on all you lovely people to get the word out. Thank you! I uploaded the full text of my Catalyst article on Milwaukee sewer socialism here (it’s updated and 3x as long as the version published earlier on this substack). If you haven’t yet, please make sure to subscribe to Catalyst here; I read every issue front to back, highly recommend. 🌹🎵 Ivan Lins (arranged by Arthur Verocai) — “General da Banda” 🌹🎵

Aug 3 • 12:50 PM EDT • Politics • laborpolitics.com

Summer Lee: Concerns over rise of socialism in Democratic Party ‘political noise’

Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) said Sunday the attacks from the GOP over the rise of socialist candidates in the Democratic Party is “political noise” and not indicative of voters’ true concerns. “That …

Aug 3 • 12:24 PM EDT • Politics • thehill.com

Good Communication Is Good Business by Geoffrey Losee

The following column was contributed by J.D. Fisher. Mixed-use communities are increasingly common. Restaurants, breweries, retail stores, entertainment venues, and professional offices often operate within walking distance of established neighborhoods. That proximity creates tremendous opportunity, but it also means that a business's decisions may affect more than just its customers. Many business owners understandably focus on obtaining the permits necessary to open their doors. However, municipal approval is rarely the end of the conversation. As a business evolves, whether by adding outdoor seating, live entertainment, extended operating hours, or other new amenities, the applicable zoning ordinance may require additional approvals or impose operational standards designed to balance commercial activity with nearby residential uses. From a business perspective, the question should not simply be, "Can we do this?" It should also be, "Have we communicated with everyone who may be affected?" Recent local news coverage highlighted how differing interpretations of a municipal ordinance can quickly become the subject of public hearings, legal arguments, and significant uncertainty for a business. While every situation turns on its own facts, one common theme emerged: practical solutions are more difficult to achieve if communication breaks down. Businesses can often reduce that risk by engaging early with the relevant stakeholders. That begins with municipal staff. Planning departments are oftentimes willing to discuss how an ordinance applies before substantial investments are made. Seeking clarification in advance may identify permitting requirements or operational limitations that can be addressed proactively rather than after enforcement action. Communication should not stop with local government. Nearby property owners and neighborhood representatives frequently appreciate being informed about proposed changes before they occur. A brief meeting, an informational email, or an invitation to discuss concerns can foster goodwill and reveal potential issues while there is still flexibility to adjust operations. That’s why such meetings often required for substantial projects and may be a good idea even if not required. Perhaps most importantly, businesses should view compliance as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event. Operational changes that seem minor from a business standpoint may have regulatory implications under local development ordinances. Periodically reviewing proposed changes with experienced land-use counsel or planning professionals can help identify issues before they become disputes. No ordinance can eliminate every conflict between commercial activity and residential expectations. Nor should every disagreement become a legal controversy. But businesses that invest in transparent, proactive communication place themselves in the strongest position to protect both their operations and their relationships within the community. In today's regulatory environment, good communication is more than good public relations, it is good risk management. If your business is planning to expand its operations, introduce a new use, or simply wants to better understand how local land development regulations apply, the attorneys at Rountree Losee LLP are available to help. Our land use and local government practice works with businesses throughout southeastern North Carolina to navigate municipal approval processes, identify potential issues before they become disputes, and keep projects moving forward with confidence. Read more at rountreelosee.com.

Aug 3 • 8:00 AM EDT • Business • wilmingtonbiz.com

Countries put science and precaution above race to start deep seabed m

More member states of the International Seabed Authority announced support for a precautionary pause or moratorium during its annual meeting, citing a lack of science and concerns for the long-term ef

Aug 3 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • wwf.panda.org

Flock cameras explained: How the license plate readers work

Flock Safety's license plate readers are raising privacy concerns and igniting a surveillance debate. Here's what you need to know.

Aug 3 • 5:19 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

Establishment Democrats’ Response to DSA’s Electoral Wins Should Be of Concern to Anyone Invested in the Future of Black Politics

Whatever happened to “big tent” politics?

Aug 3 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • thenation.com

Why Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘gaumutra expert’ remark should concern anyone who values science

Throughout history, many medicines originated from traditional knowledge. Aspirin traces its origins to willow bark. Artemisinin emerged from traditional Chinese medicine.

Aug 3 • 2:17 AM EDT • Science • theprint.in

Blanche Gives G.O.P. Senators Written Assurances on Trump’s I.R.S. Deal

Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general has been held up over concerns about a planned $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies and the president’s immunity from tax scrutiny.

Aug 3 • 1:18 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

How mental health is addressed in the U.S. healthcare system

As of March 2023, more than 160 million Americans are reported to live in areas with mental health professional shortages. This is a concerning issue, as mental health struggles are on the rise worldwide.

Aug 3 • 12:05 AM EDT • Health • healthcaretoday.com

Virginia rises one place to No. 3 in CNBC list

Virginia rose to no. 3 in CNBC's top states for business, boosted by infrastructure ranking despite economic challenges and new data center tax concerns.

Aug 2 • 11:58 PM EDT • Business • virginiabusiness.com

Ariana Grande Says She’s ‘Taking A Step Back From Visibility’

The singer and actress has faced backlash and concerns for her body image in the last few years.

Aug 2 • 5:11 PM EDT • Entertainment • huffpost.com

For a Day, Google Made It Easy to Spoof Satellite Imagery

A new Google Earth tool allowed the creation of A.I. deepfake maps. The tech giant quickly pulled it back after a backlash and concerns about disinformation risks.

Aug 2 • 3:25 PM EDT • Technology • nytimes.com

EU Age Verification Project Mandates Hardware-Bound Attestation

The EU’s age verification project confirms hardware-bound attestation is mandatory, raising concerns over Linux, custom ROMs, and open-source access.

Aug 2 • 9:43 AM EDT • Technology • linuxiac.com

Study Reveals Hidden Health Risks of Cheap Foods

A new study finds cheap foods contain more additives, sugar, and sodium, raising concerns about nutrition inequity and public health.

Aug 2 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • foodtank.com

Is It Possible to Make Smart Glasses That Aren’t Creepy?

As more big companies invest in glasses that record audio and video and pack AI on board, privacy concerns are only getting louder.

Aug 2 • 6:00 AM EDT • Technology • wired.com

Nearly 23,000 pounds of Ukrop's baked spaghetti and chicken cobbler recalled over metal sliver concerns

A consumer complaint about metal found in a fully cooked product triggered the Ukrop's Homestyle Foods recall of baked spaghetti and chicken cobbler.

Aug 2 • 2:18 AM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com

Study finds Lahaina survivors’ mental health worsening

University of Hawaii researchers with the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study (MauiWES) said Maui is recovering, but insecurity, housing instability, health concerns and weakening social support continue to place many families at risk.

Aug 2 • 1:24 AM EDT • Health • hawaiinewsnow.com

Gavin Newsom Reportedly Concerned About Paramount, WB Merger State Suit

In a Friday report, sources told The Wall Street Journal that California's governor has said if the merger is blocked due to the lawsuit, state employment will suffer, and that "Newsom’s office has encouraged Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, which has independent authority to file such suits, to find a resolution out of court."

Aug 1 • 7:46 PM EDT • Business • hollywoodreporter.com

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says he's 'very concerned' Trump will interfere in the midterm elections

Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland says he's concerned that President Trump might use federal power to influence the fall elections.

Aug 1 • 7:48 AM EDT • Politics • news4jax.com

Chile declares health alert for hantavirus

The Chile Ministry of Health issued a Health Alert for hantavirus and other diseases, such as some arboviruses and avian influenza. This is the first time this measure has been taken and it will be in effect until July 31, 2027 and it extends from the Atacama region to the Magallanes region. “Hantavirus causes a disease that is endemic to Chile, transmitted by the long-tailed pygmy rice rat that lives in rural and semi-rural areas throughout almost the entire country. As a ministry, we are constantly monitoring its behavior and are very concerned and actively working because this year the virus's lethality has increased, and for this reason, we decided to declare this alert. As of last week, there were 46 confirmed cases and 18 deaths, representing a 39% lethality rate,” reported the Undersecretary of Public Health, Dr. Alejandra Pizarro. Cases have occurred in the regions of Valparaíso, Metropolitan, O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Biobío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, and Aysén. By comparison, in 2025, there were 44 infections and eight deaths (18% case fatality rate). The health alert, which is preventative and prepared, will allow for the granting of extraordinary powers in the event of serious health emergencies to strengthen surveillance, ensure timely resource management, hire specialized personnel, implement health control measures, and expedite the acquisition of supplies through direct procurement. The alert does not imply that there is an ongoing epidemic or that the healthcare system is overwhelmed. Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube “Hantavirus is not exclusively a summer virus, as the long-tailed pygmy rice rat is present year-round. Therefore, we urge everyone to take extreme precautions: avoid touching rodents, ventilate homes before entering if they have been closed, clean unused spaces with water and bleach, and keep garbage covered and food stored away. Furthermore, it is crucial to be aware of the symptoms: fever, intense muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. If someone experiences these symptoms and has been in rural or semi-rural areas where the long-tailed pygmy rice rat may have been present, they should immediately go to a health center and inform the medical staff so that a hantavirus diagnosis can be considered promptly,” the official added. Since December 2025, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has maintained an epidemiological alert due to the rise in hantavirus cases throughout the Southern Cone, and that the Ministry of Health had an epidemiological alert in place since November of last year. Chile eliminates leprosy As mentioned above, the Health Alert decree also covers diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti, Aedes vexans, and Anopheles pseudopunctipennis mosquitoes, such as dengue and Zika, which, according to the alert, “have a high epidemic potential, which could generate high demand and overload for health facilities.” For these diseases, the alert is in effect from Arica to Los Ríos. The authority stressed that it is essential to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in stagnant water and to monitor any suspected cases of people arriving from abroad infected with any of these diseases, in order to prevent any of these vectors from biting a sick person and starting to spread the disease. In the case of avian influenza, the alert was extended to the entire country, because unlike other years, the disease has been concentrated in wild and farm birds, not in poultry farms, increasing the risk of exposure for people. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe

Aug 1 • 7:41 AM EDT • Health • outbreaknewstoday.substack.com

Anthony Scaramucci: don’t let politics cost America the digital economy

I've been one of Trump's most outspoken critics since my tenure in his White House. But this legislation evolved as lawmakers raised legitimate concerns.

Aug 1 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • fortune.com

Nearly 12 million bottles of Rohto eye drops over sterility concerns, FDA announces

Nearly 12 million bottles of Rohto Cooling Eye Drops face a Class II recall over lack of assurance of sterility, affecting eight product lines.

Aug 1 • 4:21 AM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com

‘MPs have had their stomachs pumped’: concerns over ‘alcohol-soaked’ culture in Westminster

Alcohol is embedded in profession where long hours, loneliness and lobbying are the norm, report finds

Aug 1 • 3:00 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com

Sophie Cunningham says she's not concerned about being a distraction for the Fever

Sophie Cunningham says she’s unconcerned that the rallies against transgender participation in women's sports that have accompanied the Indiana’s Fever’s recent games are a distraction for the team.

Jul 31 • 10:55 PM EDT • Sports • ksat.com

Carlton Davis' Hamstring Injury Exposes Patriots' Secondary Depth Concerns

The first minor warning sign of New England Patriots training camp 2026 has been illuminated. It is hardly a call for panic but ESPN's Mike Reiss noted on "X," late Friday afternoon that the team had brought in a pair of free agent defensive backs, Eric Butler and Tysheem Johnson, for tryouts. While this practice is commonplace from training camp through the regular season, the fact that a pair of defensive backs were in make the visits extremely timely.

Jul 31 • 8:00 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Politics Unusual: Staten Island Borough President Fossella, Assemblyman Simone

In this episode of Politics Unusual, FOX 5 NY's political reporter Morgan McKay speaks with Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella about the city's new pied-à-terre tax, as well as his push for nonpartisan primary elections. Also, a conversation with State Assemblyman Tony Simone about regulations concerning ICE.

Jul 31 • 7:04 PM EDT • Politics • fox5ny.com

CDFW News | Del Norte County Razor Clam Fishery Closes Due to Public Health Hazard; Monterey Bay Anchovy and Sardine Restrictions Lifted as Health Concern Alleviated

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife closed the recreational razor clam fishery in Del Norte County today following a recommendation from state health agencies that consumption of razor clams in the area poses a significant human health threat for domoic acid exposure.

Jul 31 • 5:58 PM EDT • Health • wildlife.ca.gov

A London Startup Is Selling Permanent Stick-On Tattoos—and It Wants to Do Mail Order

Concerned parents of the world, unite.

Jul 31 • 4:59 PM EDT • Technology • gizmodo.com

Community around Summit View Business Park concerned over potential data center

Members of Germantown Brick Church of the Brethren are asking Franklin County leaders to slow discussions surrounding a potential data center development near Summit View Business Park, saying they are concerned about the impact such a project could have on their church, cemetery and surrounding community.

Jul 31 • 4:51 PM EDT • Business • wsls.com

N.C. raises concerns about FEMA Review Council's report

The council’s report does call for major changes, potentially putting state and local governments on the hook for more money.

Jul 31 • 3:30 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Colorado Jewish leader says antisemitism is ignored in both political parties when it comes 'from their own house'

Brandon Rattiner, senior director of Denver's Jewish Community Relations Council, tells Fox News Digital the Jewish community repeatedly warned that Melat Kiros' rhetoric on Israel was alarming, but says those concerns were dismissed.

Jul 31 • 3:28 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com

Innovation Politics at the FDA - Petrie-Flom Center

The relationship between innovation and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has become a central topic of concern for a whole host of parties: academics, members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and several former FDA commissioners.

Jul 31 • 2:37 PM EDT • Politics • petrieflom.law.harvard.edu

Machias Select Board approves liquor license for virtual sports business despite neighbors’ concerns

North Street residents object to a "bar" in their neighborhood, but town officials say a lack of zoning leaves them few grounds to deny it.

Jul 31 • 12:53 PM EDT • Business • yahoo.com

Fans Shrug Off Ticket Price Hikes: Luminate Live Music 2026 Report

The live music business is enjoying a busy summer season, defying ticket-price concerns, as detailed on the latest 'Strictly Business' podcast.

Jul 31 • 9:05 AM EDT • Business • variety.com

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Raises Concern With Actions at Practice

Some Kansas City Chiefs fans expressed worry that Patrick Mahomes is pushing his surgically repaired leg too far. The post Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Raises Concern With Actions at Practice appeared first on HEAVY.

Jul 31 • 2:30 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

What Mamdani is doing with city-run stores is illegal and irresponsible, small business owner says

Multicultural Business Coalition Chairman Frank Garcia says the mayor did not want to meet with his group over concerns about the city-run grocery store project on ‘The Bottom Line.’

Jul 30 • 8:05 PM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com

Madison business owners urge city for long-term solutions amid encampment concerns

MADISON, (WKOW) — Businesses on Williamson Street say a nearby encampment has significantly slowed their operations, with some owners warning the financial impact could become significant.

Jul 30 • 6:28 PM EDT • Business • wkow.com

Robotic vacuums swept up in new US crackdown over national security risks

Some Roomba-style robotic vacuums are now covered under expanded FCC security restrictions targeting advanced foreign-made robotics tied to national security concerns.

Jul 30 • 5:01 PM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com

Apple’s Sales Disappoint in China Unit, Services Business

Apple Inc. sales grew slower than analysts anticipated last quarter in China and its services business, sparking concerns about two key markets.

Jul 30 • 4:40 PM EDT • Business • bloomberg.com

Trump's attacks on mail balloting and concerns over delays turn midterms spotlight on Postal Service

Roughly six weeks before the first midterm ballots are mailed out, the U.S. Postal Service is emerging as a pivotal player in an election season that will determine control of Congress.

Jul 30 • 3:29 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Fox News Poll: GOP divisions shape Texas Senate race

Ken Paxton trails James Talarico by 3 points in the Texas Senate race as character concerns and a GOP unity gap reshape the 2026 midterm battle.

Jul 30 • 3:22 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com

Journal, university investigations launched into gene-editing death following Science-Retraction Watch reporting

Nature is investigating concerns surrounding a paper at the heart of a news story published last week on the death of a 6-year-old girl following a gene therapy treatment in China. The paper, publi…

Jul 30 • 2:33 PM EDT • Science • retractionwatch.com

Senate committee advances nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz for CDC director

Dr. Erica Schwartz’s nomination to be director of the nation’s top public health agency advanced on Thursday, setting aside concerns that she will not stand up to political meddling.

Jul 30 • 12:03 PM EDT • Health • pbs.org

Senate committee advances nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz for CDC director

Dr. Erica Schwartz’s nomination to be director of the nation’s top public health agency advanced on Thursday, setting aside concerns that she will not stand up to political meddling.

Jul 30 • 12:03 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Wildfires force George Clooney's family to evacuate their home in France

Clooney expressed concern for the safety of the community and committed to helping rebuild

Jul 30 • 10:50 AM EDT • Entertainment • spectrumlocalnews.com

Wildfires force George Clooney's family to evacuate their home in France

Clooney expressed concern for the safety of the community and committed to helping rebuild

Jul 30 • 10:50 AM EDT • Entertainment • spectrumlocalnews.com

Reading switch Charlton friendly to The Valley

Reading move their final pre-season friendly against Charlton to The Valley because of concerns over the club's newly-laid pitch.

Jul 30 • 9:19 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Most Americans are concerned about political pressure on elections, poll finds

A majority of voters also expressed concern with ballots being improperly handled and ineligible voters casting ballots.

Jul 30 • 8:33 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com

Inside the lobbying fight threatening Congress’ college sports overhaul

Congress’ yearslong attempt to regulate college athletics has yet to cross the finish line amid contentious battles over media rights, antitrust concerns, student pay and more.

Jul 30 • 4:45 AM EDT • Sports • politico.com

Brush fire destroys over 100 tile pallets at Kern County business, sparking fire safety concerns

A brush fire destroyed 100+ tile pallets at a Kern County business. Officials urge defensible space as fire season peaks.

Jul 29 • 9:32 PM EDT • Business • turnto23.com

49ers Concerned About Knee Injury To WR Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall has been sidelined by a knee injury and there is no timeline for his return.

Jul 29 • 5:35 PM EDT • Sports • foxsports.com

Microsoft tops quarterly cloud growth estimates, easing spending concerns

Revenue at the company's Azure cloud-computing business rose 43%.

Jul 29 • 4:04 PM EDT • Business • reuters.com

Some Louisiana lawmakers backing out of NDAs as questions arise over data centers, other deals

The use of nondisclosure agreements for projects, including with companies like Meta and Hyundai, has drawn community criticism and concern about transparency. But some state officials say they’re necessary for closing economic development deals.

Jul 29 • 2:15 PM EDT • Politics • nola.com

SENATOR DECLAN O’SCANLON, ASSEMBLYWOMAN VICTORIA FLYNN, AND ASSEMBLYMAN GERRY SCHARFENBERGER ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT AMIDST RESIDENTS’ ESCALATING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN KEYPORT:

SENATOR DECLAN O’SCANLON, ASSEMBLYWOMAN VICTORIA FLYNN, AND ASSEMBLYMAN GERRY SCHARFENBERGER ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT AMIDST RESIDENTS’ ESCALATING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN KEYPORT: July 29, 2026 “As concerns continue to grow regarding the reported “cancer cluster” in the Borough of Keyport, we want every resident to know that their health and well-being remain our[...]

Jul 29 • 11:44 AM EDT • Health • insidernj.com

American, Asian confederations blindsided by FIFA’s World Cup plan

Americas governing body 'deeply concerned' by lack of due process in FIFA private investment plan, AFC 'disappointed'.

Jul 29 • 7:41 AM EDT • Sports • aljazeera.com

Local nonprofits call for changes at Bexar County jail over custody deaths, healthcare concerns

Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are home to the largest county jails in Texas. So far this year, Bexar County has had the highest number of reported deaths while in jail custody, according to data from the Texas Jail Project.

Jul 28 • 11:34 PM EDT • Health • ksat.com

Costco midtown store nears business center switch amid concerns, may keep pharmacy

Councilman Crispin Rea said keeping the pharmacy would be “a big win” for the neighborhood’s most vulnerable residents.

Jul 28 • 6:40 PM EDT • Business • kansascity.com

Dogwood Health Trust flags HCA compliance concerns in Mission Health review

Dogwood Health Trust says its latest review of HCA Healthcare's purchase of Mission Health found two areas of potential concern.

Jul 28 • 4:57 PM EDT • Health • wlos.com

Cyclospora Boosts Fears That Deadlier Foodborne Outbreaks Are Ahead

By Kate Wells and Stephanie Armour | KFF Health News The next foodborne illness outbreak could be much worse. That’s the concern of food safety leaders across the U.S. who are raising alarms over federal cuts they say have made it harder to detect and stop the spread of foodborne illnesses, such as ...

Jul 28 • 2:37 PM EDT • Health • usnews.com

Visa time limits on foreign Ph.D. students and postdocs will harm U.S. science, experts warn

A Trump administration plan to limit visas for graduate student and postdocs to four years is fueling concerns that the U.S. could lose out on foreign scientists

Jul 28 • 1:00 PM EDT • Science • statnews.com

Cowboys Camp Preview, Offense: Can Schottenheimer Fix One Major Concern?

Jul 28 • 12:44 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Framework Laptop 13 Pro review: The king of repairability is back

After five full years with the same Laptop 13.5 model, Framework has finally developed a successor worthy of the "Pro" name. The much-needed update doubles down on everything that made the original so special while addressing many of the common concerns.

Jul 28 • 11:47 AM EDT • Technology • notebookcheck.net

Under pressure over China backers, Mercedes CEO pledges to defend US business

Mercedes-Benz's CEO pledged on Tuesday to shield its U.S. business from a possible sales ban, as concerns in Washington over the German carmaker's Chinese investors threaten it with exclusion from one of its few remaining growth markets.

Jul 28 • 9:15 AM EDT • Business • reuters.com

Health Shocks and Annuity Choices

excerpt

Jul 28 • 8:53 AM EDT • Health • crr.bc.edu

Anthony Fauci’s pandemic-era diary entries

New data on American substance use, concerns of a global HIV resurgence, and more health news from Morning Rounds

Jul 28 • 7:57 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com

Repairs to Madame John's Legacy, one of French Quarter's oldest buildings, causes concern

One of the oldest buildings in the New Orleans French Quarter and a rare surviving example of French Colonial architecture is at the center of a years long dispute between local preservationists and the state, nearly three years after the two sides thought they'd worked out a compromise.

Jul 28 • 5:00 AM EDT • Business • nola.com

Data centers have become a political issue. Here's where the Ohio governor candidates stand.

The frontrunners for Ohio governor both want to regulate data centers but have different plans for how to address growing concerns.

Jul 28 • 3:55 AM EDT • Politics • ohiocapitaljournal.com

How vaccine skeptics use storytelling to create powerful and medically inaccurate messaging

Recognizing the stories behind people’s concerns with vaccines can help public health advocates build a more inclusive approach to healthcare.

Jul 27 • 10:09 PM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com

Free Press Opinion: Where politics are concerned, churches should keep first things first

If the mission of a Christian church is to proclaim the lordship of Jesus Christ and ask those who would follow him to lead a similar life, why would it use part of its primary Sunday service to promote political candidates the leader of the church believes should be elected?

Jul 27 • 6:01 PM EDT • Politics • timesfreepress.com

Galveston businesses ask for I-45 construction delay

Concerned about the effect on businesses during the final weeks of Galveston’s peak tourism season, the Galveston Restaurant Group has asked the Texas Department of Transportation to delay Phase 2,

Jul 27 • 5:10 PM EDT • Business • galvnews.com

Heat stress is rising globally, raising health concerns for billions: Study

Climate change is causing frequent, well-studied, extreme heat events. Less well understood is the additional heat stress experienced by billions of people as a result of those extreme heat events. However, a new study published in Nature Climate Change aims to change that. The study analyzed more than 70 years of climate data stored in […]

Jul 27 • 4:57 PM EDT • Health • news.mongabay.com

Minneapolis starts Black Business Week with focus on investment, entrepreneurship

The kickoff comes as small businesses across the Twin Cities continue to navigate economic uncertainty. Some business owners have reported challenges tied to the recent increase in federal immigration enforcement activity, including fewer customers, staffing concerns and financial strain.

Jul 27 • 3:25 PM EDT • Business • mprnews.org

Texas investigates major tampon, cosmetics manufacturers for alleged deceptive health claims

The Texas Attorney General's office has launched sweeping, industry-wide investigations into major manufacturers of feminine care and cosmetic products over concerns that companies may be misleading consumers about the presence of toxic chemicals and heavy metals.

Jul 27 • 11:56 AM EDT • Health • fox4news.com

Texas investigates major tampon, cosmetics manufacturers for alleged deceptive health claims

The Texas Attorney General's office has launched sweeping, industry-wide investigations into major manufacturers of feminine care and cosmetic products over concerns that companies may be misleading consumers about the presence of toxic chemicals and heavy metals.

Jul 27 • 11:56 AM EDT • Health • fox7austin.com

What you need to know about the health impacts of fast fashion & toxic knockoffs

U.S. officials say most counterfeit goods seized at the border come from China and Hong Kong. Now, concerns are growing that some of these bargains may carry something else: Chemicals you didn’t pay for.

Jul 27 • 10:19 AM EDT • Health • news4jax.com

62-Year-Old Baha’i Prisoner Denied Medical Furlough Despite Critical Health Concerns

According to information received by IranWire, Neda Badakhsh, a 62-year-old Baha’i citizen, remains incarcerated in Dowlatabad Prison in ...

Jul 27 • 6:46 AM EDT • Health • iranwire.com

Emails show how Virginia regulators downplayed data center health concerns, more headlines

Virginia news July 27 2026

Jul 27 • 5:08 AM EDT • Health • virginiamercury.com

The Fed confronts an unusually confusing economic moment

The Federal Reserve has remained mum about interest rates as inflation concerns have heightened, leading to confusion about the state of the US economy.

Jul 27 • 5:00 AM EDT • Business • cnn.com

Business briefs, July 27

New CMS voting memo sparks concerns over resident assistance in nursing homes … Initial jobless claims decline 22K week over week, falling to a seasonally adjusted tally of 187K … House Energy and Commerce Committee passes package to streamline Medicare Advantage prior authorization … 1 in 4 US workers sticking with a job strictly for health insurance … Fitch Ratings affirms Greenwood Village South at BBB-; outlook stable

Jul 26 • 8:01 PM EDT • Business • mcknightsseniorliving.com

McConnell Hits 6 Weeks Since Hospitalization—As Health Concerns Persist

It is unclear when the Kentucky senator plans to return to Congress.

Jul 26 • 4:59 PM EDT • Health • forbes.com

Claude AI Shared Chats Reportedly Exposed in Google Search Results

Anthropic’s Claude share links appeared in public search results, raising fresh privacy concerns for users who shared sensitive conversations.

Jul 26 • 1:05 PM EDT • Technology • cybersecuritynews.com

Yemen’s health workers race to halt latest outbreak of deadly dengue fever

Health workers are battling to contain the mosquito-borne disease amid growing concern over rising infections.

Jul 26 • 9:39 AM EDT • Health • aljazeera.com

Girl’s death in China reveals human cost of unregulated science

A six-year-old girl's death in China highlights the urgent need for regulation in gene-editing trials amid ethical concerns.

Jul 26 • 6:15 AM EDT • Science • thehindu.com

Arkansas’ smoking ban just turned 20. Can the state find common ground on public health again?

COMMENTARY: Last week marked the 20th anniversary of Arkansas' indoor smoking ban taking effect. The law is a testament to bipartisanship and the work of Arkansas public health leaders. It’s also a model for how Arkansas policymakers can address the state’s public health concerns today.

Jul 26 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • arkansasadvocate.com