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Our Darwinian Approach to Health Care Costs
In his latest column, President and CEO Dr. Drew Altman presents his Venn diagram of health care cost problems and shows how, in our fragmented health system, reducing one health cost problem often makes another worse.
China’s latest war game uses hospital and science ships for espionage
It is self-evident that Beijing is not promoting peace, health or scientific research.
The White House’s shocking lies about Minneapolis
Never forget how this administration misled you.
Scott Pilgrim EX Arrives In March, Two New Playable Characters Revealed
Two former enemies of Scott now rally by his side.
Top Five Moments: Budget Committee Hearing on Skyrocketing Health Care Costs
The Official U.S. Congressional website of The Republican Budget Committee
Football Announces New Sports Performance Staff Hires - University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee football has finalized its sports performance staff with the addition of six new hires under the direction of Derek Owings , head coach Josh Heupel...
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Event Colleagues Enjoy Special Celebration at Little Caesars Arena
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Lucky Strike Entertainment and PBA Appoint Peter Murray as CEO Of PBA and Head of Media for Lucky Strike Entertainment
Lucky Strike Entertainment and PBA Appoint Peter Murray as CEO Of PBA and Head of Media for Lucky Strike Entertainment
Leaker makes unlikely claim about improved iPhone 18 telephoto lens
A leaker better known for posting about Android smartphones has made a claim potentially pointing to improved telephoto performance in...
Windows 11’s ability to resume Android apps on your PC is getting closer
The feature is now in Release Preview testing
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Radiologists urge HHS secretary to overhaul US Preventive Services Task Force
Over 45 physicians, scientists and public health leaders believe a “fundamental shift” is needed to address how USPSTF develops and implements recommendations.
Google just leaked a first look at Android for PC in action
Here’s what Aluminium OS actually looks like.
‘AI is the future’: UK launches state’s 1st Bachelor of Science in AI
From smartphones to self-driving cars, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how the world works — and now, Kentucky students can be trained at the forefront of that transformation. The Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky has launched the Commonwealth’s first Bachelor of Science in AI. The undergraduate degree program, housed in the Department of Computer Science, will welcome its first class in Fall 2026.
Datavault AI Announces Agreement with Sports Illustrated in Connection with The Development of a Proprietary, Sports-Focused Digital Asset Exchange Platform
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA / ACCESS Newswire / January 28, 2026 / Datavault AI Inc. ("Datavault AI" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:DVLT), a provider…...
Ray J Shares His Heart Is "Only Beating 25 Percent" After Near-Fatal Hospitalization
Ray J said his heart is "only beating 25 percent" after he "almost died" while hospitalized for a severe case of pneumonia earlier in January.
Solar Sun Surfer Expands Commercial Services with Comprehensive Installation Solutions for Business Clients
Santa Rosa, California - January 27, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - Solar Sun Surfer has announced the expansion of its
Google Says AI Agent Can Now Browse on Users’ Behalf
Google is launching an artificial intelligence assistant on its Chrome browser that can open websites and click around on a user’s behalf.
Samsung’s first Galaxy S26 teaser is for the ‘Privacy Display’ [Gallery]
Samsung is teasing the Galaxy S26’s new “Privacy display” feature in a series of new videos that showcase how the...
Android’s full desktop interface leaks: New status bar, Chrome Extensions, more [Video]
A Google bug report on the Chromium Issue Tracker today has inadvertently leaked the Android desktop interface for the first time.
AirTag 2 vs AirTag: Here’s everything new
Apple’s AirTag successor is finally here, five years after the original model. Here’s every feature that’s new and improved with AirTag 2.
How Trump transformed ICE, in two charts
The money behind Trump’s immigration crackdown, briefly explained.
Abbott executive who led TAVR, Tendyne divisions announces exit
Chris Waddell, a medtech executive focused on various structural heart technologies, is leaving Abbott after several years to "recharge" and pursue a new opportunity.
How I Built $700 Million in Businesses Without Outside Investors
After 20 years of building and exiting companies and completing over $700 million in transactions, I've discovered the playbook that lets independents compete and win against larger competitors.
China is purging its military leaders. Is this a step toward war?
Xi Jinping is eliminating the people who might be willing to say no to him.
Grant powers innovation in the science of freezing
We all know the difference between water and ice is a drop in temperature, but...
Scientists recover the oldest wooden tools from a site in Greece
Scientists say two artifacts found at a lake shore in Greece are the oldest wooden tools uncovered so far.
DeAPlaneta Entertainment Previews 2026 Slate at Spielwarenmesse
Series launches, franchise expansions, and a licensing portfolio are shared at Nuremberg.
Study Shows Google's Health-Focused AI Overviews Cite YouTube Over Any Medical Site
YouTube ranks 11th in traditional Google search results for health queries, but jumps to first place when it comes to AI Overview citations.
Sonos bursts out of the shadows with a bespoke amplifier, says more is coming
Sonos just announced the Amp Multi after going radio silent for over a year. The company says this is just...
Sonos unveils its first new hardware product in over a year
Sonos has had a rough past couple of years, but the company just unveiled its first new hardware product since 2024: the Amp Multi.
Tahoe Forest Health System celebrates Heart Health Month
TRUCKEE, Calif. – Tahoe Forest Health System invites local residents to join a month-long celebration of Heart Health Month this February. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States,...
Google AI Plus comes to US for $7.99, Google One 2 TB upgraded
After introducing the plan internationally in September, Google is bringing its AI Plus subscription to 35 new countries, including the US.
Grounded 2 Update: The Toxic Tangle – Available Now
The Toxic Tangle update is available now, expanding Grounded 2 with a massive new Garden biome,, new creatures and gear including a new mount, the mysterious Tang effect, and much more.
Press Advantage Releases Educational Guide on How Press Releases Help Validate Business Details for Search Engines
Las Vegas, NV - January 27, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - Press Advantage, a leading press release distribution service, has
Google AI Overviews follow up questions jump you directly to AI Mode
This will result in less traffic to your site and more traffic to Google's AI Mode. Plus, Gemini 3 is now powering all AI Overviews globally by default.
Google Search now lets you ask AI Overviews follow-up questions
‘A quick snapshot when you need it, and deeper conversation when you want it.’
Android adds ‘Failed Authentication Lock’ setting, boosts failed passcode lockout
Google today detailed the latest device theft protection features for Android across stronger authentication and enhanced recovery tools.
Health care stocks rocked by proposed Medicare Advantage rates
The proposal threatens revenue and margins in a core profit engine for major health insurers.
Business with dictators is a security risk America has fallen for before
Business with dictators is never just business.
Guides offer strategies on preparing for public health emergencies, cybersecurity incidents
Two AHA guides offer strategies for hospitals and health systems in preparing for public health emergencies and disasters and managing cybersecurity incidents.
Heart health after severe weather
The snowstorm may have passed, but for some, the danger is just beginning. Medical experts warn that heart-related injuries and emergencies can spike in the day after severe weather.
Yahoo Scout looks like a more web-friendly take on AI search
Imagine if ChatGPT and Perplexity cared more about the web.
Uptown car wash site hits market, reopening debate over future of Tchoupitoulas corridor
A longtime Uptown car wash is up for sale just two years after a heated fight over demolishing historic homes on the site. The 70,000-square-foot Tchoupitoulas Street property now sits at the center of a corridor still in flux, as nearby retail and development plans remain uncertain.
Broncos Welcome Dons Wednesday For Late Night Hoops on CBS Sports
Broncos Welcome Dons Wednesday For Late Night Hoops on CBS Sports
WSU projects draw on AI to advance medical science
AI is fueling change in how human health is studied and medical care is delivered.
Clawdbot sparks Mac mini memes as Anthropic forces name change
If you’re seeing a lot of photos of stacks of Mac mini machines filling the internet, that’s been sparked by...
Here's the good news and bad news on upgrading to the AirTag 2
Apple yesterday announced the AirTag 2, the first update to its standalone location-tracking device. It offers improved Precision Finding, a...
SRNL Appoints Jackson to Lead Science, Energy and Innovation Directorate
Savannah River National Laboratory has appointed Roderick Jackson as associate laboratory director for the Science, Energy and Innovation Directorate. January 27, 2026
Lab-grown organoids reveal how glioblastoma outsmarts treatment
Tumor organoid models offer new insight into how the brain and immune system shape cancer behavior.
My internship mapping toxic microbes: The power of community in coastal health monitoring
Hello! I’m Taylor Hart, a 2024 NOAA Hollings scholar studying earth system science with a minor in biological sciences at the University of California, Irvine. This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to intern at the National Coastal Centers for Ocean Science Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina! My research was focused on mapping the dis
Climate-risk scores shape billion-dollar decisions, and new study says science behind them needs to be more transparent
A new paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences argues that trustworthiness of climate-risk scores depends not just on the sophistication of the models used to produce the scores but also on whether the science behind them is open, reusable and transparent enough for others to examine, test and improve.
Pitt business and education programs rank among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs
The University’s part-time MBA earned a top 35 ranking, while the School of Education leapt 45 spots to crack the top 100 in graduate education.
Oakland Comes to the Gates Sports Center on Wednesday - Purdue Fort Wayne Athletics
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne welcomes Oakland to campus on Wednesday. The 'Dons have a 9-1 record at home this season and have won five straight game...
Xbox Cloud Gaming’s new design teases the future of Xbox console UI
This new design is the foundation for new Xbox UI work
The Trump administration is admitting it lied about Alex Pretti
A baby-step back from the brink.
SellYourWay.org Publishes a New White Paper on the Role of Seller Financing in Closing Small Business Sales
Today, SellYourWay.org, a website dedicated to the education of small business owners, is pleased to announce the release of a new, in-depth white paper titled, The Role of Seller Financing in Closing Deals. Lauren Drummond Dale, MCBI, shares expert insights on what seller financing is, how frequently it is used and what small business owners should know before selling their businesses. Ms. Dale is Principal and M&A Advisor at Coastal Consultants, LLC. SellYourWay.org is powered by the Internati
Radiology practice SimonMed Imaging launches new ‘longevity screening’ division
The elective exams have previously been delivered under the SimonONE brand and will be folded into the rest of the radiology practice for greater service integration.
Nate Adams Brings National Championship Pedigree to Redhawks Sports Performance
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Nate Adams was hired as Southeast Missouri's Director of Sports Performance Tuesday.
Latest Google Pixel update causing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues for some
A number of Google Pixel owners have reported over the past few days that, following the latest update, their devices...
Apple updates iOS 12 to extend support on older devices
Apple has released iOS 12.5.8 for a small group of older devices, to make sure they can continue using FaceTime and iMessage.
AirTag 2: Three tidbits you might have missed
Apple today announced its second-generation AirTag, bringing major improvements to the incredible popular item tracker. Here are three things you...
From war damage to heart repair: ERC grantees supported to turn their science into practice
The European Research Council (ERC) has published the outcomes of the last 2025 round of its Proof of Concept Grants. In this round, 136 grantees will each receive €150 000, supporting them in exploring how their scientific results can move towards practical application or early commercial use. With these awards, the total number of Proof of Concept Grants under the ERC 2025 Work Programme reached 300, representing an overall budget of €45 million. The scheme is funded under Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation.
iOS 26.3 adds new feature to limit location data shared with your carrier
In a new support document today, Apple details a new iOS 26.3 feature exclusive to devices with an Apple modem:...
Heavy cannabis use may not impact heart surgery outcomes
Cannabis use has been linked to multiple cardiovascular risks, but less is known about how it may impact patients who undergo major cardiac surgery.
This is Android 17’s blur, new screen recorder, & more in leaked screenshots [Gallery]
The Android 17 leaks continue today with a preview at the upcoming blur effect for System UI, as well as functional changes and updates.
Health care community mourns Alex Pretti, the VA nurse killed Saturday by federal agent
Hundreds of Minnesotans are gathering at the site in Minneapolis where 37-year old Alex Pretti was shot and killed by a federal border patrol agent Saturday. Among them are health care workers who are grieving the loss of one of their own, as Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at the VA hospital in Minneapolis.
Trump's war on immigration entangles business in PR disaster and the literal site of contested arrests
In Minneapolis, hotels, restaurants and other businesses have temporarily closed their doors or stopped accepting reservations amid widespread protests.
Top Research Stories of 2025: UT Health Science Center’s Year of Impact
UT Health Sciences advanced what’s possible for research, health care, and collaboration across Tennessee and beyond.
The Best Law Schools For Entertainment Law
If you're interested in entertainment law, you need to see this list.
Apple Watch user gave ChatGPT Health his data, with troubling results
ChatGPT Health launched recently with Apple Health integration, but a journalist’s experiment with the new technology didn’t go very well.
Scientists recover the oldest wooden tools from a site in Greece
Scientists say two artifacts found at a lake shore in Greece are the oldest wooden tools uncovered so far
Scientists recover the oldest wooden tools from a site in Greece
Scientists say two artifacts found at a lake shore in Greece are the oldest wooden tools uncovered so far.
Google will settle its Assistant spying lawsuit for $68 million
“Ok Google, are you listening?”
Immigrant-owned and staffed businesses frightened by ICE activity in Maine
Some are temporarily closing their doors or making contingency plans.
Google Photos upgrading ‘Photo to video’ with custom prompts, audio
After last year’s introduction, "Photo to video" generation in Google Photos is getting two notable upgrades today.
HHS, Education Refer Minnesota to DOJ for Allowing Males in Girls’ Sports
HHS notified the Minnesota Department of Education that they are referring their cases against MDE and MSHSL to DOJ.
DOH-Lee Issues Water Quality Health Advisory - Florida Department of Health in Lee County
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DOH-Lee Issues Blue Green Algae Health Alert for Caloosahatchee River-Sebastian Canal - Florida Department of Health in Lee County
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Will the Mac ever get Face ID? This latest rumor is a good sign
Face ID has been part of the iPhone for close to a decade, and the iPad for nearly as long—but...
HDUs help deliver quality and cost improvements, Medicaid leaders say
Melissa Kotrys of the Contexture health information exchange previews her HIMSS26 panel session exploring how health data utility capabilities support Medicaid and public health objectives.
In downtown Wilmington, Live Oak shutting down inclusive small business center
Live Oak Bank is turning Channel off. Described by Live Oak as an inclusive small business center, Channel opened in November 2021 to serve as a free resource for small business owners, helping numerous minority-owned and other small businesses from its headquarters downtown at 106 Market St. "After careful consideration, we’ve decided to bring Channel ... to a close at the end of this month. Live Oak determined that the needs of Wilmington’s small business community have evolved. Since Channel opened, the local small business ecosystem has grown significantly, with many strong organizations now offering education, technical assistance and community programming for entrepreneurs," stated Claire Parker, managing director of corporate communications for Live Oak Bank, in an email Monday. "With those resources firmly in place, Live Oak is refocusing on what we do best – providing banking and financing solutions that help small businesses grow and thrive." Channel's demise also resulted in the elimination of two positions – those of Channel's director, Chakema Clinton-Quintana, and Atiba Johnson, the certified professional business advisor (CPBA) at Channel. On Monday, Clinton-Quintana, who was elected to the Wilmington City Council in November, said of her immediate plans after Channel: "I will continue my work serving the public while I look for other full-time opportunities." She said Channel "served over 1,000 small business owners in the greater Wilmington area, as well as some of the surrounding areas, such as Brunswick and Pender. A lot of folks had reached out to us needing those resources because they were free, and we were able to assist them in that capacity." Johnson said he will be devoting his time to the Wilmington Minority Chamber of Commerce, which is not affiliated with the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The minority chamber is celebrating its launch from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Wilmington Sportsman Club, 1111 Castle St., Wilmington. Johnson, the founder and executive director of the new chamber, said about 50 businesses are on board to join the Wilmington Minority Chamber of Commerce. According to a news release, the new chamber "was established to foster growth, networking, and advocacy for underrepresented business owners. By providing essential resources and community engagement, the chamber aims to build a more inclusive and prosperous local economy." Johnson said the creation of the new chamber is in response to "lapses in funding, education, advocacy for minority businesses...Some of the things that are going on now just don't reach all the way down to those businesses." For Lynne Jones, owner of LJ Design Studio LLC, the loss of Channel also means a reduction in income. She had contracted with Channel to run the center's social media and to provide some marketing for small business owners. "It's pretty disappointing to hear that it is closing...it was a place to connect with other small business owners and collaborate. It was like a family for those of us who were there. If you had issues or things that you needed to talk through concerning your business, there was always someone there that you could sit down with and talk things through, recalibrate, and they set you off on your way to make that pivot and move in a different direction," Jones said Monday. She said she worked with many Channel participants creating their websites and will miss seeing the joy on their faces when those websites were up and running. Dawn McDowell, owner of Creatively Covered Co. LLC, credits Channel with helping her business grow and regrow after her social media pages were hacked and shut down in 2023. "Channel was a great resource for small businesses, for women-owned businesses, for minority-owned businesses; they provided a lot of assistance, especially when you needed it," McDowell said. "If it wasn't for Channel, I don't know if I'd be where I am now, in my business, and regrowing my business and even finding out about some of the certifications and things that were out there for small businesses that I just didn't know about ... because there was no one really sharing that information for small businesses, for minority- and women-owned businesses in particular." Parker said shutting down Channel was not part of an overall cost-cutting plan. She stated in the email, "Live Oak’s commitment to Wilmington remains strong. We are continuing to support entrepreneurs by focusing our efforts where we deliver the greatest value – through specialized banking and financing solutions aligned with our mission to be America’s small business bank." As for Channel's downtown office, Live Oak had leased the 5,000-square-foot space above Seabird restaurant in 2021. The bank’s lease for the office is up in March, Parker said.
Google TV update rolling out with homescreen tweak, new settings
Google TV updates aren’t all that frequent or major anymore, but there are new tweaks here and there, including a...
Register Today for National Girls & Women in Sports Day
Register Today for National Girls & Women in Sports Day
NASA Resumes Efforts to Reestablish Contact With MAVEN
As spacecraft and rovers at Mars emerge from solar conjunction – a period when the Red Planet and Earth are on opposite sides of the Sun and contact with Mars
Code Vein II Review - Bloodsucking The Fun Away
Remove Code Vein II's inspirations, and what remains is an unremarkable and forgettable experience.
Minnesota medtech companies call for ‘de-escalation’ after Alex Pretti’s death
Executives from two of the world’s largest medtech companies, Medtronic and Boston Scientific, are among the leaders calling for "state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions."
Trump on closing his eyes during Cabinet meetings: ‘Boring as hell’
President Trump said he’s closed his eyes during Cabinet meetings because they are “boring as hell” but noted this isn’t a reflection of his health. “It’s boring as hell, I’m going around a room, …
Ye apologizes for antisemitic remarks: ‘I lost touch with reality’
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is issuing an apology for his antisemitic remarks and past embrace of the Nazi swastika, saying mental health challenges caused him to lose “touch…
Introducing BU's New Online MS in Artificial Intelligence in Business
BU Questrom School of Business has launched a new Online MS in Artificial Intelligence in Business, designed for working professionals responsible for improving performance, scaling change, and making artificial intelligence work in real organizations.
Third Annual Washtenaw County Celebration of Girls and Women in Sports - Eastern Michigan University Athletics
The George Gervin GameAbove Center will serve as a gathering place for sport, learning, and connection on Saturday, Jan. 31. Eastern Michigan University will...
Learfield Appoints Sal Miliotto as General Manager of Murray State Sports Properties - Murray State University Athletics
Learfield, the exclusive multimedia rightsholder for Murray State Athletics, today announced Sal Miliotto as the General Manager of its locally based team, M...
Latest Intel chips beat Apple's M5 – for maybe two days
Two laptops with the latest Intel chips have beaten out the MacBook Pro with M5 chip – but it’s already...