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Low-Income Countries’ Push For Climate Money For Health Meets German Pushback Ahead Of COP31
BERLIN – Germany's top climate civil servant pushed back on Monday against a call from the world's poorest countries for more climate finance for health. The money fight of COP31 opens officially in Antalya, Türkiye, next month. In the halls of the World Health Summit in Berlin, it's already started.
Commissioners, Health Department held Camden County Local Boards of Health Summit
On Wednesday, the Camden County Board of Commissioners and the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services held the Camden County Local Boards of Health Summit, an event ... More
Choctaw Nation Doctor Appointed to Health Tribal Advisory Committee
Overview: The Chief of Staff of Choctaw Nations Health Service has been appointed to a federal tribal health advisory committee. Dr. Amanda Chisum-Price has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Tribal Advisory Committee as an At-Large Delegate. She currently serves […]
Finding right fit is more important in judicial clerkship hiring than politics, new study says
Law students often assume that politics decide who wins a judicial clerkship, but judges say otherwise, according to a new study based on interviews with 194 federal and state judges.
WORLD BUSINESS CHICAGO UNVEILS KEYNOTE LINEUP FOR INAUGURAL CHICAGO VENTURE SUMMIT: FUTURE OF HEALTH
/PRNewswire/ -- World Business Chicago (WBC) today announced the keynote speakers and initial program for the inaugural Chicago Venture Summit: Future of...
WORLD BUSINESS CHICAGO UNVEILS KEYNOTE LINEUP FOR INAUGURAL CHICAGO VENTURE SUMMIT: FUTURE OF HEALTH
/PRNewswire/ -- World Business Chicago (WBC) today announced the keynote speakers and initial program for the inaugural Chicago Venture Summit: Future of...
Regional Summit highlights economic growth, competitiveness
The Greater Des Moines Partnership hosted its annual Regional Summit on Oct. 8, to explore ideas, partnerships and trends that are shaping Central Iowa’s future. The summit featured discussions on economic growth, talent and regional competitiveness, including a keynote address from Dominic Williams, senior expert at McKinsey & Co.’s Institute for Economic Mobility, who said…
Amazon’s $550 tablet breaks its oldest hardware rule
The Alexa premium tablet poses one big problem for the company.
New PCC opens in Madison Valley
After a decade navigating financial turmoil, a global pandemic and shifting consumer habits, the grocery chain finally opens the store's doors on Wednesday.
Social Security announces cost-of-living adjustment for 2027
The Social Security Administration announced new the new cost-of-living adjustment after the latest consumer inflation data was released on Wednesday.
Beyond the Hospital: Old Dominion University Nursing Students Take Community Health Into Practice
It’s 9 a.m. on a scorching summer day in Williamsburg. Audrey Wallin has arrived at Grove Christian Outreach Center from Virginia Beach expecting to put her nursing skills to work. What she finds is a lesson in healthcare that extends well beyond a blood pressure cuff.
Venezuela’s Machado tops poll as US-backed negotiations resume
María Corina Machado holds a commanding lead in presidential voting intentions in Venezuela even as she remains sidelined from U.S.-backed negotiations between the government and opposition aimed at restoring democratic
Creemee Tours Add Sweetness To Fall Foliage Tours
MONTPELIER- Both the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (AAFM), and the Vermont Maple Sugar Maker’s Association (VMSMA) offer creemee-based promotions. The promotions are most popular in the summer
PROFILE: Ben Sio
New President of CenterState CEO Brings Nearly Two Decades of Experience to Drive CNY Growth By Stefan Yablonski Ben Sio serves as president of the CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity — or CenterState CEO. The independent Syracuse-based nonprofit is committed to creating inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth in Central New York. “I started in this position in March, so it has been six months. I’m in my 19th year with CenterState,” he said in August. As president, he is responsible for overseeing the organization’s administration and governance, while leading and executing its vision to be an effective advocate, exceptional employer and a force for positive outcomes for the community. He previously served as chief of staff and senior vice president of strategy, policy and planning, overseeing the organization’s long-term strategic planning, consulting, corporate governance, fundraising and development, land-use planning and government relations. In his years with the organization, Sio has led or supported many high-profile strategic initiatives including the creation of the CNY Rising Plan, the launch of the NUAIR Alliance and the region’s UAS strategy, the creation of the Micron-enabled Community Priorities Document and the recently awarded NY Smart I Corridor Tech Hub. “When we decided to split Rob’s [Simpson] role into two positions, he has the CEO title and I got the president title. Rob remains focused on forward looking vision strategy for the organization and I’m more focused on the day-to-day operations,” he explained. “I’m also responsible for building consensus around strategic needs and priorities and managing the change necessary to drive execution. It’s an eventful job. “The experiment that we call CenterState is always evolving and shifting and addressing where we see market demand and market failure. “If we see something in our economy that isn’t going the way we think it should go, then whether it is housing development or workforce development or something else, we are always figuring out how to step into these situations and address those challenges.” “We are the largest ever in terms of staff that we have ever been. We are no longer the 20-person organization we were when we started out many, many years ago,” he said. “There are more day-to-day things to take care of. But also there is just so much happening in the community right now that is pulling CenterState and our expertise in so many directions. I tell people if we were bored and not busy, then I’d be really concerned about what we are doing. But we are not bored. We’ve certainly got our hands full — and that is a good thing.” CenterState has now approximately 63 employees on its staff, according to recent nonprofit database records. It’s involved in myriad programs, ranging from Genius NY, a business accelerator competition for uncrewed systems, IoT and robotics startups, to CenterState Up Start, a collaborative business development program that connects local, service-based businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to the tools and networks that help them thrive. CNY Guy Through and Through A Central New York guy through and through, Sio was born and raised in Skaneateles. “My mom was a teacher, an art teacher. My father worked for many, many years with National Grid. He was there through the transition from Niagara Mohawk to National Grid,” he said. “Neither of my parents were touched by cutbacks and job loss. But I grew up going through that transition and being concerned that there were rounds of layoffs. My childhood connection to the economy here in Central New York … years ago it was on the decline. There were people that lived here that were concerned about losing their job. They were thinking they lived in a place that didn’t show much promise.” That narrative translated to his generation, he added. “The kids that grew up in the ‘90s in Central New York were very much told, directly or indirectly, by their parents, that they had to go somewhere else to find economic opportunity. That is what I grew up thinking,” he said. “I only went a few miles down Route 20 for college — in Geneva, New York; I graduated from Hobart and William Smith College with a bachelor’s degree in public policy and political science. “I got real interested in regional economies; because what makes regional economy is what makes the economy successful. And when I graduated, I had an opportunity to move to Washington, DC and work down there at a nonprofit doing this work.” However, he decided to stay in Central New York. “I got hired two weeks after I graduated. I got hired by the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. At the time it was one of two entities doing economic development in Central New York — [the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Association] — and it eventually became CenterState CEO,” he said, referring to 2010 merger between the two organizations. During his time at CenterState, Sio has also split time at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., where he supported communities developing export and foreign direct investment (FDI), a long-term cross-border investment where an individual or company from one country buys a lasting stake or control in a business located in another country. The program — known as Global Cities Initiative — was designed to help leaders in major U.S. and international metropolitan areas reorient their local economies toward global markets. “Early on in my tenure at CenterState, we had done a lot of work with the Brookings Institution, just regional planning stuff. We worked with them on developing a regional export plan, to export more products out of Central New York and a larger business plan for the region. They hired me on to help replicate those plans in different parts of the country,”Sio explained. “So, I worked there for three or four years. I worked for CenterState, but I was technically loaned to Brookings for a period of time to help them do this work elsewhere.” Family ties “My wife is Carly. We have been married 14 years. We have two kids, a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old. “With a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old, fun is a relative term these days. We do a lot of hiking. The kids this summer got very interested in waterfalls. We’ve hit every waterfall we could in a short hike — we’ve done Skaneateles and some others.” “I do woodworking and wood turning — it’s a branch of woodworking; you use a wood lathe. My big thing there is making wood bowls. I do that in most of my free time, which is not much,” he quipped. “I like to get into my woodshop and make a bowl and decompress and turn off the rest of the world for a little bit. I usually do it late at night when the house is quiet. It is definitely my escape from the day to day. I make a lot of bowls; all different sizes, all different species of wood. It’s a fun thing to do for me.” He gives away many of his creations. “They are mostly gifts — I don’t really sell them. I really don’t have time to go set up a booth at a fair or craft show. I usually give them away. I donate them to different things. If you are in my periphery, you’ve likely received a salad bowl from me as a gift. I just need to find something to do with all the stuff that I create,” he said. Lifelines Name: Benjamin Sio Position: President, CenterState CEO Birth Date: Not provided Birth place: Syracuse Residence: Westvale Education: Hobart and William Smith Colleges in the Finger Lakes Affiliations: Member of the boards of Skaneateles Festival, Greccio Foundation, Interfaith Works, CNY Community Foundation Personal/family: Married with two kids Hobbies: Woodworking and woodturning
BUSINESS UPDATE: A 138-year-old New York Manufacturer Gets Another Life in Fulton
E.J. Willis Co. was founded in New York City in 1888 and for generations it has made ship’s bells and other equipment for the U.S. Navy and American shipbuilders. This summer, the new owner moved the company’s equipment to Fulton By Stefan Yablonski E. J. Willis Co. cast brass ship’s bells — handcrafted in the United States since 1888. Ship bells, “built to last a lifetime at sea,” are now manufactured in Fulton. E.J. Willis Co. has moved its operation and manufacturing business to Fulton. They are currently operating out of N.E.T & Die. The company is now under the ownership of Jonathan Hyatt. He recently acquired the company after seeing a for sale note on Craigslist. [caption id=attachment_11110 align=alignright width=400] Entrepreneur Jonathan Hyatt is the new owner of E.J. Willis Co. He bought the business this summer after finding a listing on Craigslist by chance.[/caption] “I had been looking for something to do. I had been 20 years in corporate America and I was just tired of building someone else’s empire, you know what I mean? I was in consulting, pretty much a jack of all trades. I wanted to do something that I could call my own,” he explained. “I’d been on this path of trying to find a business to buy for about a year. One night I am on Craigslist about 11:30 in mid-April searching for something completely unrelated. At the bottom of Craigslist was a ‘things you might be interested in from outside of your area.’ There was an ad that said 138-year-old bell manufacturing company for sale. So, I clicked; why not, right? I wasn’t looking to buy a manufacturing company, but I went down the rabbit hole, absolutely fell in love with the history and ended up buying it.” He read the ad and responded. “I called and I am talking to the owner of the business for about two hours. We ended with, let’s have another chat and then come on out here and have a look. I figured, well I might wind up getting kidnapped and getting murdered or there is a real business here. But I gotta see it through,” he quipped. “And sure enough, there is a big machine shop operation there. The gentleman who owned it was retiring and in the corner of this shop is a little room where they make bells and they have been doing this ever since the company had started.” That’s the one constant thing that has survived the changes of the business. [caption id=attachment_11061 align=alignright width=300] Sales 1929 general catalog published by E. J. Willis Co, listing all the merchandise it sold. It’s like the Sears Roebuck and Co. catalog for marine parts.[/caption] “I drove home and told my wife, ‘This is what I am doing for the rest of whatever we are calling this — mid-life crisis.’ And she said, ‘absolutely you got to do it.’ I took out a loan and off we go.” He put in an offer on the business and they closed on July 1. He didn’t disclose what he paid for the company. “In terms of price, the seller and I have agreed to keep those terms private.” “I am finding that I am a business owner, an archeologist, opening files and cabinets that haven’t been opened in 100 years. It’s just amazing, just cool things that I am finding,” he said. “I want to build the business back. I want to be able to sell the bells to outsiders. I think they are beautiful. “It’s really a wild story about a company that started in lower Manhattan, exploded in the automotive space, sold parts to the Wright Brothers, moved into the aeronautical world and then landed in marine. The cool thing, I have been digging around and the gentleman who owned the company prior to me was not a digital guy. There is nothing out there. “Now I am sitting here with all the art from like the 1930s, the E.J. Willis boat catalog it’s like 250 pages of things this company used to make. It’s like the Sears-Roebuck and Co. catalog for marine parts. We are modernizing, we are staying true to the heritage of the business. It’s exciting to be the next steward of the whole business.” Initially he thought he’d move everything from the company’s plant in Middleville, Herkimer County, to Boston, out of convenience. “Then I thought let’s keep the foundry where it is. Let’s not move anything right away,” he said. “I want to get a good sense of what we’ve got, what works and what doesn’t. “I went to the foundry and met with the people there, lovely people, and said here is my position — I am buying a company where everyone is retiring. There is machining and polishing to be done, who would you work with around here? Without hesitation they said, ‘you need to go to NET Tool & Die and talk to Michelle [Shatrau]. She is a third-generation machinist and she runs the company now.’” So, he drove to Fulton. “I knocked on the door, they let me in. And she said, ‘how’d you get in here?’” he said with a laugh. “We became fast friends. I told her what I am doing. It must have struck a nerve. She has a very entrepreneurial background. I must have said something right because she came out and she said, ‘I’d love to help you. Why don’t we move the equipment that you have into my large building and I will give you a space to work at and use my team?’” [caption id=attachment_11058 align=alignleft width=300] Bell in progress awaiting assembly[/caption] It’s a great relationship so far. “We are bringing the business into the modern world. It’s been a lot of stuff all at once. But it has been very exciting,” he said. “We moved in a month ago [in July]. We closed on the business July 1. We moved a couple weeks later. We had all our equipment set up, electrical being run, everything. [caption id=attachment_11059 align=alignright width=300] Bell attached to a lathe going through the machining process[/caption] “We’re working with NET Tool & Die to rebuild production and preserve manufacturing processes that, in some cases, existed mostly in the heads and hands of the people who had been doing them for decades. We’re currently working on several 200-pound ship’s bells and bringing an old two-way manual bilge pump back into production.” He said he will be working with NET employees for the time being, adding, “I’d love to get to a point where I have so much growth that I need to hire people.” No one wakes up and says, ‘I am buying a bell today,’ Hyatt admitted. [caption id=attachment_11060 align=alignleft width=225] Bell after receiving a custom etching toward the bell mouth[/caption] “Everyone does wake up and has things that deserve acknowledgment and remembering — a promotion, a marriage, the birth of a child,” he said. “These are the things I feel like if there was something that could capture a particular moment in time and will literally outlast the person that bought it, a bell is that. We can engrave a bell if you get married or the birth of a child. We can put anything on a bell. “I have orders, yes. I am working on several orders right now. We have a little bit of busyness. But there are still some things to work out. I want to make things consistently and continue to move forward.”
BUSINESS UPDATE: Port Perseveres Despite Tariffs’ Negative Impact
‘We are hanging tough ... in an environment that is incredibly difficult to do business in right now,” the port’s director says By Stefan Yablonski Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have hurt the Port of Oswego by slashing Canadian aluminum cargo volumes and reducing revenue. “We’re doing good. We are hanging tough. It is a tough time for our line of business in general, you know with these tariffs and the amount of Canadian aluminum that we see through our docks,” said the new executive director, Tom Drumm. “Compared to 2025, we are doing exceedingly well in traffic coming in; not necessarily the volumes we were seeing, but yeah we are hanging tough in an environment that is incredibly difficult to do business in right now.” “I don’t know where people get these numbers to be honest. We have never publicly stated how much our revenue is down or up or left to right. We don’t have a strong sense of those revenue numbers until the shipping season really closes up. We won’t have an accurate picture of the revenue standpoint until after the shipping season, typically in late November,” he added. “What I can tell you is several of our Canadian vessels that carry the aluminum cells — the volume of aluminum on those vessels we have seen decreasing. That is attributed to a few factors. One is where Novelis is in in their restart process. Novelis is rocking and rolling right now. They are starting to pull a lot of aluminum from the port of Oswego, the aluminum that they roll down into coils. “Another factor plainly is the tariffs. Canadian aluminum is tariffed at 50%. So, on those vessels we are seeing lower numbers than we would like. We’d like to see vessels carrying roughly 10,000 metric tons of aluminum. Over the course of this year, we have seen more in the range of 4,000 to 6,000. “Every piece of that aluminum that we receive here by vessel at the port is from Canada and is subsequently hit with the 50% tariff. It directly affects us because we’ve received less volume than we would traditionally see pre-tariff times.” When the port receives less aluminum from those vessels it means less hours for the ILA (International Longshoremen Association) as far as folks that work on the dock, he said. When cargo declines, it affects everyone, fewer hours for longshoremen, fewer loads for truck drivers, fewer rail shipments and less business for local suppliers. “Outside of the aluminum that comes in by vessel, the port topped out at having roughly 4,600 aluminum ingots stored on site at the port. That project had never been done before. The port of Oswego had never had that many of those size ingots in our yard,” he said. “It has been a busy summer for the ILA. Would we like to see more work for them? Sure. They are working all those barges when they come in, but as opposed to working 15 hours they might be working seven or eight hours. It hasn’t been a distinct decline in ILA hours. There has been plenty of work to keep our guys busy throughout the summer.” More salt “We just brought salt back to the port in several, several years. Around Harborfest time at one point we had a salt barge here with about 24,000 metric tons of rock salt and we had an aluminum barge here the same week. We had close to 40 men working,” he said. “Yeah, the other products definitely keep us busy. The salt project was a massive project, one that we are proud of. I’ve got 24,000 metric tons of salt on site that has to go somewhere — that’s going to be another project.” It is important for the port to continue to look at different products, different commodities to try to diversify some of its revenue, he said, adding, “We have done a pretty good job of that in my first five months here … particularly with the rock salt we have on site right now. It is important to continue to try to stand out and work through some projects outside our usual business. I enjoy it. It is a challenge every single day we put our head down and we try our best.”
BUSINESS UPDATE: All About Cannabis
SUNY Oswego’s cannabis studies prepares for growing business opportunities By Mary Beth Roach [caption id=attachment_11114 align=alignright width=383] Marthinus (Martin) Koen is associate professor of criminal justice and cannabis studies at SUNY Oswego. He and the chair of the SUNY Oswego’s Criminal Justice Department, Roger Guy, created the program.[/caption] As the cannabis industry in New York state continues to grow, so do the business opportunities. New York’s legal cannabis market is projected to hit $3 billion in annual sales this year and more than 600 licensed dispensaries are operating across the state, according to budpedia.com. It’s estimated that New York will add about 16,160 new cannabis jobs in 2026, according to the 2026 U.S. Cannabis Jobs Report. SUNY Oswego, realizing the potential, now offers two programs to acquaint both matriculated and non matriculated students with aspects of this multi-billion-dollar business. Its cannabis studies microcredential came out last year and a minor was introduced this fall. The microcredential allows traditional students to add electives to their degree. Students who are not enrolled in the college can sign up to take classes to learn more about the field, growing the crop and managing or opening a dispensary, according to Marthinus (Martin) Koen, associate professor of criminal justice and cannabis studies at SUNY Oswego. The classes are designed to give those who wish to pursue business opportunities in the field a much broader understanding of cannabis and a more overall perspective of the various aspects of running a business, such as supply chain management, customer service and best practices. “When you’re trying to market it, when you’re trying to make sales, you’re understanding will be a lot more vast and nuanced,” he said. “The last 10 years especially, the hard science on cannabis increased and we have a lot more nuanced understanding right now that hasn’t yet permeated the pop culture,” he added. Koen’s team is also hoping to develop an independent study class that will help somebody who wants to apply for a license. That the classes fill up quickly should come as no surprise. “I think there’s a lot of people who are excited about it because it’s a new industry,” he said and they see an opportunity to make some money. Matriculated students may look at it as fun to learn about and stack on top of their existing major or minor. According to the college’s website, students interested in a microcredential would take cannabis law and policy and cultivation of cannabis, along with two other electives. For the first elective they could select either the economics of cannabis or manufacturing, distribution, and logistics of cannabis; and the second elective would be either cannabis science, analysis, and well-being or cannabis and society. The idea for a microcredential in cannabis studies at SUNY Oswego began in 2023, Koen said, as SUNY statewide was advocating for these types of initiatives. Koen and the chair of the SUNY Oswego’s Criminal Justice Department, Roger Guy, began brainstorming on ideas. Catching their attention was the legalization of full recreational marijuana use in New York state in 2021 and the problem-riddled rollout of the state’s Office of Cannabis Management. Guy and Koen created a Criminal Justice Elective called CRJ 420, called cannabis and society, to see if there was any interest. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that there was interest —a lot of it. Further discussions led to the microcredential, cannabis studies, which incorporated science, business and anthropological perspectives, Koen said. They were allowed to create their own prefixes for the classes, such as CAN 310; CAN 320; and CAN 420. Yes, the 420 was intentional — it’s a slang term and symbol used to refer to cannabis consumption and counterculture — but it’s also meant to reflect that the course, being on the 400 level, is “very academically involved,” Koen explained. The term 420 was coined in 1971 by a group of California high school students as a secret code to meet at 4:20 p.m. at a campus landmark to search for an abandoned cannabis crop nearby. The phrase has evolved, to say the least. It is now associated with cannabis use worldwide. For more information, visit ww1.oswego.edu/academics/microcredentials/cannabis-studies.
Are Bank Lobbies Still Relevant?
Local banking leaders say technology is changing the way customers use their banks — and their lobbies By Deborah Jeanne Post [caption id=attachment_11109 align=alignright width=300] Steve Gorczynski is M&T Bank Central New York regional president.[/caption] When was the last time you entered the lobby of your bank? If it’s been a while, you’re part of a trend of eschewing the lobby in favor of ATMs, drive-thrus, online banking and remote deposit. A 2025 study performed by the American Bankers Association revealed that only 9% of consumers use bank branches as their preferred way to do banking and 76% prefer mobile banking. The trend away from the lobby reflects consumer behavior in other areas of doing business, including online shopping instead of perusing the mall, ordering fast food at a kiosk, not at the counter and selecting curbside pick-up rather than walking into the restaurant. Consumers want convenience and going in the lobby adds another layer to the task. It also places consumers face to face with one or more representatives of the business, something less favorable to people feeling burned out from interpersonal interactions. Nixing or at least minimizing the size of the lobby isn’t necessarily negative for banks. Fewer people passing through their doors reduces overhead for building maintenance, staffing and furnishing. Greater reliance on virtual banking can mean closing brick and mortar locations and hiring fewer staffers to cover roles like teller and lending officer. “Our focus is on meeting customers where they are and giving them flexibility in how they bank,” said Steve Gorczynski, M&T Bank Central New York regional president. “While many everyday transactions can be supported digitally and through ATMs, branches remain important for more complex financial needs, offering face-to-face guidance and a more personal banking experience.” Talking with a commercial lender or working on a home mortgage are two examples where meeting face-to-face is more desirable for many people. They can receive immediate feedback to questions and can possibly reach their goals more quickly. But there’s little need to have a large seating area, long counters and numerous tellers for routine banking that’s quicker to handle virtually. Online banking can also help people on the go more readily complete banking tasks such as depositing checks, transferring funds among accounts and checking balances. [caption id=attachment_11135 align=alignright width=300] Tina M. Stephens is the vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank.[/caption] “The traditional bank lobby is certainly being evaluated by most institutions today, as the typical large, open and cavernous spaces do not necessarily meet the needs of today’s customers,” said Tina M. Stephens, vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank. “Traditional lobbies often bisect traditional teller stations and customer service areas, which adds confusion, especially for the demographic who routinely use online banking and only access the lobby for customer service needs.” Despite the rollback in physical locations across the industry, Fulton Savings Bank began modernizing its six branch offices in Oswego and Onondaga counties about three years ago and have finished four offices so far in Baldwinsville, Fulton, Constantia, and Phoenix. “We made the decision to build a new branch across the street from our current office in Brewerton which will be completed by the end of 2026, and we will begin the retrofit of our Central Square office in early 2027,” Stephens said. “Our efforts specifically address where we think customers will be in the next three to five years and have greater flexibility to make changes out into the future.” The bank may be onto something, as numerous reports state that screen-weary Gen Z young adults crave more in-person interactions than virtual ones. If the pendulum continues to swing in that direction, it’s hard to see all physical bank areas disappear, even if they change somewhat. Fulton Savings Bank has also consolidated its teller and customer service representative areas to larger “universal banker” areas, where the bank representative can address all customer retail needs. A one-stop-shop experience appeals to busy banking customers who want to perform a few different banking tasks in one visit. Stephens also said that Fulton Savings Bank made additional technology and security enhancements and created flex spaces to accommodate bank meetings throughout the two-county branch footprint. At Solvay Bank, Elizabeth Lavier, vice president marketing and communications manager, lauded digital and online services as convenient and flexible for managing finances; however, “technology is not meant to replace what matters most: the relationships behind every account that have always been at the heart of community banking,” she said. “Even in today’s digital-first world, people of all ages still value the opportunity to sit down with a trusted banker for personalized guidance. We understand that some of life’s biggest moments call for more than a screen.” Lavier views digital banking as another way for the organization to serve customers rather than a replacement for branches, tellers and lenders, which tend to serve customers better for transactions like buying a first car, purchasing a home, saving for a child’s education, or planning for retirement. “Those conversations, built on understanding, experience and personal guidance, are what community banking is all about,” Lavier said. “At the end of the day, banking is about more than transactions. It’s about helping our customers achieve their goals and being there for them every step of the way. By combining the convenience of digital banking with the care, commitment, and personal service of a local community bank, Solvay Bank offers customers the best of both worlds.” Are Paper Checks Destined to Disappear? With the ubiquity of debit cards, online payments, virtual checks and peer-to-peer payment platforms like Venmo, Zelle and PayPal, will paper checks become passe? “In my view, paper checks are unlikely to disappear in the near future,” said Tina M. Stephens, vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank. “They continue to serve a practical purpose by providing a clear paper trail and tangible proof of payment.” According to the American Banker, a leading trade publication that covers the banking and financial industry, in 2024, checks accounted for 65% of all payment fraud losses. Paper checks should be phased out, according to the publication. “The phrase, ‘The check’s in the mail’ probably sounds strange to younger people because the era of paper checks is rapidly drawing to a close. Put bluntly, checks are an expensive, insecure legacy that is a drag on the U.S. economy. Rather than wait for them to vanish slowly, the pragmatic choice is to strategically accelerate the transition to paperless payments.”
UTC doctoral student Zach Lloyd finds his path in cybersecurity
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga doctoral student Zach Lloyd spent the summer at the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific in San Diego, using cybersecurity skills he developed at UTC to support U.S. Department of Defense research.
Student scientists warm up at home before heading to national science fair
Scientific research can be both time consuming and tedious when designing a project that can achieve meaningful and accurate results. Wrangell High School students were honored for doing just …
Robin Divine’s Journey in healthcare leadership
For Robin Divine, a career in healthcare was never far from home. “I grew up around healthcare,” Divine said. As the daughter of a pediatrician in Albuquerque, Divine spent summers working in her father’s office, gaining an early appreciation for the...
Robin Bronk and Industry Experts to Address AI’s Impact on the Entertainment Industry at ChIPs Global Summit
ChIPs Network, the global organization advancing women in tech, law and policy, will host a session on AI in Hollywood at its annual ChIPs Global Summit.
ESA flags retro console maker Anbernic for inclusion on US government's Notorious Market List
Trade body claims Anbernic "normalises hardware-based piracy by delivering illicit catalogues through a polished consumer product"
Financial health scores ask nothing of banks. That is why they love them.
Learn about financial health scores and how they impact consumer finance. Are they beneficial or simply a façade for banks?
The Vogue Business SS27 Global Buyer Report
Buyers share their top trends, collections and takeaways from the Spring/Summer 2027 season.
Trump admin silent as Russia hits American businesses with ‘drones and missiles’ in Ukraine
As President Donald Trump and his administration have ratcheted up pressure on Ukraine to stop striking Russian refineries, citing harm to American consumers, they have remained silent on recent Russian strikes on US businesses in Ukraine.
Show off your vehicle during Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival
Bring your ride and show it off at the Hazelwood Hot Summer Nights Cruise-In at the Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival on Oct. 24, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.
Dodgers should have taken Shohei Ohtani off the postseason roster
The Dodgers failed Shohei Ohtani this summer, but now they need to do what is best and set him down for the duration of the playoffs.
Scammers posing as employees from well-known companies, Better Business Bureau says
A warning for consumers after scammers allegedly pose as employees from well-known companies such as DoorDash, UCSF and Freedom Debt Relief.
Goldman says investors are looking for 'profitable' Chinese business growth overseas
Sluggish consumer demand in China has pushed many companies, such as electric car brands, to accelerate plans for entering other countries.
Analysing the Role of Summer Signing Dan Neil at Rangers
With Dan Neil making an exceptional start to life at Ibrox since joining Rangers from boyhood club Sunderland of the Premier League in the summer, we analyse his current role in the team.
Dr. Chisum-Price Appointed to Health Tribal Advisory Committee
A Choctaw tribal member, Dr. Chisum-Price serves as Chief of Staff, where she leads and directs over 200 providers who deliver health care services to tribal members and Native Americans throughout the Choctaw Nation’s service area.
Resume workshops, job fairs announced for Oneida County
First Choice Staffing and the Mid-York Library System have announced the "Let's Get You Job-Ready" initiative for October and November to help people in Oneida County strengthen their resumes and other job search tips.
Watertown Christmas parade donations at half of goal; frustrated business proposes alternative
Donations for the Watertown Christmas parade sit at half of what’s needed, as a Lewis County business that offered to pay for it says it’s frustrated and is now proposing its own celebration.
Amid on-the-job deaths, Taxi Workers Alliance calls on state to fund driver health benefits
The show of support for a taxi-driver health fund comes after a brutal summer in which four taxi drivers died on the job. All four were dealing with ongoing medical struggles.
LVCVA happy with results of this year’s five-day sale in September
While the most important result — how much visitation is increasing as a result of the sale — may never be revealed, LVCVA marketers were happy with increased page views.
When 1 + 1 = 1: The Miserable Math Behind Many Media Mergers
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) The last few issues of this newsletter have circled two topics: September’s streaming viewership and all the Paramount/Skydance/Warner Bros./Discovery merger news. I’m happy to say on the Streaming Ratings Report front, we’ll be all caught up by early next week, then the SRR will come out on a tight weekly schedule. Then, after today, I’ll have slayed my PSWbD dragon. It’s such a big story, it demanded multiple issues. With the announcement of a name (just Skydance) and executive team, though, I think we can almost close the book on this story. In terms of topics, it becomes just another studio to cover. So today, I have one last set of takes on that merger. As I’ve sat with it, reading about who was staying and who was going, a big worry crystallized in my brain, and I gotta get that take out. Plus, I still owe you a host of “ugliness” that didn’t fit in my previous “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” takes. Let’s dive in! Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - As Paramount Shuffles Deck Chairs, Will They Build or Consolidate? On social media—I try to avoid most social media platforms, but sometimes I end up checking in—the best joke I saw about the announcement of the new name of Skydance was from fellow reporter Claire Atkinson who pointed out… Yeah, I laughed out loud at that one. Later, though, I saw another Twitter response (that later got deleted, so I can’t shout the person out) that did give me pause. The person noted that the Titanic film made the better analogy: a super expensive project everyone in the town doubted that went on to conquer the globe. So yeah: on one hand, the image of the Titanic recalls the actual ship and its infamous end, but that clip is from a movie which proved the doubters wrong. So for all the skepticism of the latest massive media merger, one could wonder which way this one goes. Does it crash like the Titanic or rise to glory like Titanic, the movie? Either way, this deal is “Titanic”, looking at the massive debt required to close the deal, which is not going well when it comes to borrowing costs for Paramount… …or borrowing costs for Oracle. But I’ve started to get worried about another outcome: the sum of this merger will be smaller and weaker and less profitable than its former parts. In other words, one plus one won’t equal three or two, but an even smaller number. Skydance paid to take a traditional studio off the board, but they won’t really capture the upside. Let me explain what I mean, but first, let’s look at the series of news that inspired this thought. Skydance Sets Its Leadership Team As soon as the Paramount-Skydance-Warner Bros.-Discovery merger closed, the new leadership team announced a new name—Skydance, which I’ll use going forward—and a new executive leadership team. You’ve probably read through all the executive shuffling, but if you haven’t, here’s a quick, incomplete summary, in rough order of importance: Mattel’s CEO Ynon Kreiz—who previously ran Maker Studios—joined as co-CEO with David Ellison. HBO/HBO Max’s Casey Bloys will stay and run streaming. Former head of streaming for Paramount-Skydance Cindy Holland—who was also at Netflix—will depart. The former heads of Warner Bros.—Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca—are out. The film studios will be run by Dana Goldstein and Josh Greenstein. George Cheeks of Paramount will run Skydance TV, controlling all the TV production units. In comic book news, the DC films will still be run by Peter Gunn and Peter Safran. Lastly, the head of CNN, Mark Thompson, will stay in place. Let’s quickly opine on the particulars before diving into the broad ramifications. We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Who I like and dislike in their next gigs… Why I think this consolidation will likely leave Skydance worse off… The math behind which mergers succeed and which don’t… A lot more ugliness in this merger… And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
Summit Napa Valley Opens With Brain Science Sessions, Hands-On AI Workshops and Reveal of 2027 Experiences
/PRNewswire/ -- Summit Napa Valley, which opened Monday at The Meritage, is underway with three days of programming that combines brain and performance...
Then and Now: Through three careers, King builds extraordinary life
Kevin King’s resume reads like three different careers stitched together: internet pioneer, top-producing real estate broker and Caribbean charter captain. Learning from each experience and job is key, King said,...
Bringing Wiki Projects to the 2026 Summer Institute in Computational Social Science in Kenya
Image: Queen Asali, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wait, you can just access all that knowledge and even contribute to it?! A SICSS participant when learning about Wikimedia projects It takes a village of people wi…
The surprising psychology of morbid curiosity
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan has incurred condemnation from human rights groups and politicians on all sides. But according to Coltan Scrivner, an author and psychologist at Arizona State University and expert on morbid curiosity, people are still likely to watch in large numbers. He explains why we are drawn to dark and disturbing content, and Madeleine Finlay tells Ian Sample how consuming this kind of material can harm observers’ mental health
'Deceived' Julian Alvarez Splits From Agent After Arsenal Interest
Julian Alvarez has reportedly parted ways with his long-time agent, after Arsenal attempted to sign the striker during the summer.
GC America A Century of Restorative Material Science Now on the Midas Digital Press
SprintRay, the leader in dental 3D printing, and GC, a global R&D and manufacturing leader in dental materials science announced GC's first restorative, GC GRADIA® PREMi, custom designed and engineered for the SprintRay Midas Digital Press. While the partnership was announced earlier this year, the new material was unveiled on Oct. 10 to dental professionals at 3DNext, SprintRay's summit in Miami. This combines GC's 105 years of restorative material science with SprintRay's innovation in dental
Australia: NSW Health warns against handling bats due to lyssavirus
NSW Health is advising the public not to handle, or otherwise handle bats, following a recent increase in people being bitten or scratched across the state. In the two weeks from 28 September to 10 October, 43 people were assessed by NSW Health after being bitten or scratched by bats. This includes in coastal areas in Hunter New England, the Mid North Coast, Northern NSW, and the Central Coast. This is a significant increase when compared with 10 reported cases of bat bites or scratches for the same two-week period in 2025. Keira Glasgow, Director in Health Protection at NSW Health, said, “We want people to assume that any bat could carry Australian bat lyssavirus, which is a close relative to the rabies virus and very dangerous to humans.” “If you see a bat that is injured or in distress, call your local wildlife rescue service and do not touch it. Only trained, protected and vaccinated wildlife handlers should interact with bats. “It is incredibly rare for Australian bat lyssavirus to transmit to humans, but once symptoms of lyssavirus start in people who are scratched or bitten by an infected bat, sadly there is no effective treatment. “If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, urgent medical assessment is crucial.” Rabies virus and Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) belong to a group of viruses called lyssaviruses. These viruses transmit via a bite from an infected ("rabid") animal. They all cause a similar illness known as rabies, which affects the central nervous system and is usually fatal. Rabies and ABLV infection cause similar symptoms. The early symptoms are flu-like, including headache, fever and fatigue. The illness progresses rapidly to paralysis, delirium, convulsions and death, usually within a week or two. Rabies cases and the three known human cases of ABLV infection have shown a wide variability in the time it takes for symptoms to appear following exposure to an infected animal (from several days to several years). The best way to protect yourself from infection is to not touch bats. If you see a bat in distress, injured or trapped on the ground, do not try to rescue it. Instead, contact trained experts. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
2026 Patient Innovators Awards Winners Announced at Courier Health's Annual Summit
/PRNewswire/ -- Courier Health, the leading technology company for managing patient experiences, today announced the winners of the second annual Patient...
Integrative Health Meets Clinical Science: OmniActive Launches Fenavari; Names Dr. Taz Bhatia, MD, As Women's Health Partner
/PRNewswire/ -- OmniActive Health Technologies (OmniActive), a global leader in the consumer wellness industry through innovative science and natural...
US grocer Albertsons suspends full-year forecasts amid business review
Oct 13 (Reuters) - Albertsons withdrew its fiscal 2026 forecasts on Tuesday as the grocer reviews its strategy, cost structure and portfolio of businesses as part of a turnaround effort. The company has been facing cautious consumer spending, particu...
Is PENN Entertainment, Inc. (PENN) Stock Outpacing Its Consumer Discretionary Peers This Year?
Here is how PENN Entertainment (PENN) and Sendas Distribuidora S.A. Sponsored ADR (ASAIY) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.
Kustom Entertainment CEO to Present at LD Micro Main Event, Highlighting Video Solutions Divestiture and Live Entertainment Strategy
CEO Stanton E. Ross will discuss Kustom Entertainment's video divestiture and entertainment roadmap at LD Micro Main Event.Quiver AI SummaryKustom Entertainment, Inc. announced that its CEO, Stanton E. Ross, will present at the 20th Annual LD Micro Main Event in Los Angeles from October 19-21, 2026. The conference will cover several key topics, including the recent divestiture of its video solutions business for $6.1 million to Cycurion, Inc., ma
The Politics of Global AI Governance
Published: October 13, 2026 The growing gap between rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and inadequate verification mechanisms has created several challenges for the technology. In thi…
London Unites Global Business Leaders at the 6th Global Business Excellence Gala
/PRNewswire/ -- The 6th Global Business Excellence Gala brought together distinguished guests, business leaders, academics, entrepreneurs and institutional...
Ronald Araujo holds the key to Liverpool's transfer plans
Ronald Araujo has been one of Liverpool’s most promising players in the early weeks of Andoni Iraola’s tenure. The Uruguayan defender was a surprise arrival at Anfield in the summer, joining on lo...
Dave Portnoy boldly claims ‘curse’ of LeBron James is already ruining Philadelphia sports
Dave Portnoy believes LeBron James’ presence on the Philadelphia 76ers is having an impact on the city’s robust sports culture. James joined the 76ers this summer, signing a 1+1 deal worth $8 million, the league minimum for veteran players, to try and compete for an NBA championship.
After 2 summers of construction pain, Greektown unveils its revamped Monroe Street
Stakeholders believe the streetscape project will provide a boost for owners of restaurant and other businesses.
Bengals defense posts one of NFL’s lowest missed tackle rates
Cincinnati posted a 6.5% missed tackle rate in Week 5, the fifth-lowest mark before Sunday Night Football, according to SumerSports.
'IvyBears' YouTube Breakout Hits Cannes, Spawns Animated Feature
From consumer products to character-driven series, IvyBears goes brand-to-content in a 'reverse flywheel' approach powered by AI and artists alike.
Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Goleta Focuses on AI, Leadership and the Future of Business
Leaders gather on the Central Coast to discuss technological change, women's representation in business and solutions to community challenges. GOLETA,
Marseille’s Igor Paixao says January exit unlikely
Igor Paixao (26) has said that a summer exit from Olympique de Marseille is “more likely” than a January exit. The Brazilian has said that, in the meantime, he is also not opposed to taking a pay ...
Dévy Rigaux’s aggressive summer approach has helped revitalise Feyenoord
Dévy Rigaux didn’t take long to begin making sweeping changes at Feyenoord. The former Club Brugge Sporting Director had barely been in post when he began making signings and replacing Robin Van Pe...
Kayla Harrison trashes Ronda Rousey's MMA resume
UFC women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison isn't impressed with Ronda Rousey's MMA resume.
More students are ruling out colleges based on politics, poll finds
Art & Science Group found that the share of students who decided against a college based entirely on its home state’s politics rose to 34% this summer.
Halloween, Día de los Muertos a treat for Santa Fe business owners as sales climb
According to the National Retail Federation’s annual consumer survey, consumer spending on Halloween this year is projected to reach a record $13.5 billion, and local retailers are noticing.
Small group health insurance market rates announced
Media Release, Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) has approved 2027 health insurance premium rates for the small group health insurance market. As of March 2026, over 31,000 New Mexicans were enrolled in a small group plan. The average increase across small group plans is 19.8%. These rates take effect on January 1, 2027. The carriers offering small group coverage in New Mexico in 2027 are: Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico (HealthCare Service Corporation) Presbyterian Health Plan Presbyterian Insurance Company UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company Key Factors Driving the Rate Increases The primary factors that contributed to the 2027 increases are: Claims Experience - Higher than expected 2025 New Mexico claims experience, which is the foundation for the 2027 rate development. Cost Trend - Higher utilization and inflation impacted healthcare costs services, which impacts medical services and pharmaceutical costs nationwide. Risk Pool Changes - Nationwide, businesses with healthier employees are opting for alternative health coverage not under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This results ina smaller and less healthy small group ACA risk pool. Final approved rates will be posted on the OSI website. To view the carrier rate sheets and rate increase specifics, visit the Office of Superintendent of Insurance website here. The Rate Review Process Conducted by OSI The OSI rate review process focuses on approving rates for health insurance plans that are actuarially sound, not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory and ensuring health insurance rates comply with all state and federal laws. For more information, visit the Office of Superintendent of Insurance website at https://osi.state.nm.us/en/. *** About the Office of Superintendent of Insurance The Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) is New Mexico’s regulatory agency responsible for overseeing a wide range of insurance products, including private health and life insurance, auto, home, business, and title insurance. OSI regulates private health plans in the individual, small group, and large group markets, ensuring that premium rates are fair, companies are financially sound, and health care insurance coverage is reliable. While OSI does not have authority over self-funded health plans, where an employer assumes the financial responsibility for paying employee health care claims, Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE, OSI plays a vital role in protecting consumers by reviewing premium rates, monitoring insurance company conduct, and licensing producers (formerly known as insurance brokers and agents).
Hamilton Assumes His Mistake in Singapore: 'Painful Lesson'
The Briton acknowledges that the decision not to enter the pits under the Virtual Safety Car was his and apologizes to the team for the lost points. He admits the medium tires didn't perform as expected and that their degradation cost him three positions.
AI behaves more like a brain than a database – cognitive science’s role in its origin story helps explain why
When people think about what ChatGPT or other large language models are doing behind the scenes, it’s common to reach for the language of computing. You might assume there is
Physicists discover “astonishing” property of light that defies expectations
Scientists have uncovered a surprising hidden ability of light that allows it to develop spinning, twisting behavior as it travels through empty space, without special lenses, mirrors, or materials. Researchers discovered that light’s internal geometry can naturally produce left- and right-handed patterns, challenging long-standing assumptions about how light behaves. By carefully arranging a beam’s structure, scientists can control where and how these spinning patterns emerge, unlocking a new way to manipulate light.
How worried should Catholics be about the pope’s health?
Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he will undergo surgery this week to remove a “nodule” from his lung. The pope made the announcement at the end of his Sunday Angelus address, asking for prayers. “Dear all, recently, during some checkups, the doctors discovered a nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and was well-localized,” Leo said. “The doctors felt it was necessary to intervene, and so, following their advice, I decided to have surgery to remove it. The procedure is already scheduled for the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual support and I entrust myself to your prayers.” The Vatican press office subsequently added that Leo is scheduled to undergo surgery at the Gamelli hospital on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The pope is expected to spend up to a week in the Gamelli recovering, after which, for the moment, he is still expected to undertake his largest and longest to-date Apostolic journey, heading to Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru, beginning Nov. 6. Prayers have, understandably, poured in from dioceses around the world, accompanied by the best wishes of heads of state and international institutions. So how worried should Catholics be for the health of the pope? The Vatican’s messaging around Leo’s pending surgery is, in many ways, a new approach to papal health issues. But, despite the pope’s personal candour, the Holy See’s messaging perhaps raises as many questions as it answers. Subscribe — Leo’s decision to announce his own medical status and pending hospital stay during the Sunday Angelus is, it should be said, already something of a big deal. Traditionally, the health of popes simply hasn’t been discussed publicly or officially, until circumstances made it absolutely necessary. Memorably, in 2023 Pope Francis was rushed to the Gemelli in an ambulance, exhibiting signs of cardiac arrest according to many close to him, only for the Sala Stampa to put out a statement insisting he was merely going in for “pre-scheduled” tests. That Pope Leo has decided to announce his condition himself, with remarkable frankness, is a significant comms policy shift around the Apostolic Palace. This might reflect a deliberately more open posture, as opposed to the traditional, otiose evasiveness, and the first fruits of an American pope and American prefect of the Dicastery for Communications favoring honesty as a baseline. Equally, it must be allowed, it could be that the pope’s situation is serious enough that there would be no keeping it under wraps or playing it off, and the decision was made to be as open as possible to head off speculation about the papal health. Certainly, Leo appeared to make every effort to sound reassuring — stressing that, whatever the diagnosis is, exactly, it is “well-localized” and “early stage.” Of course, for everyone listening, talk of a “nodule” in a lung will immediately send thoughts — and prayers — running to concerns about words not used, like “cancer,” “tumor,” “begnin” or “malignant.” To be clear, none of those words may yet be medically appropriate. And there is every reason to believe and assume that Leo is giving almost as much information as he may have himself at this stage. But the context of the pope’s announcement and the timing of his surgery do reasonably raise reasonably serious concerns for Leo. We don’t know, and this isn’t to say anyone has the right to expect to know, when the routine medical checks made this discovery. It could have been last week, last month, or even earlier. As such, it isn’t really possible to say with what kind of urgency Leo is being brought in for surgery. However, there is clearly some serious urgency to the matter. Leo making the announcement and going into hospital this week, of all weeks, means he is having to miss the balance and conclusion of his global meeting of the heads of the world’s bishops conferences, which he convened in Rome this week. That, as the Vatican has announced, has meant some serious changes to the schedule, with the newly minted dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Tagle, subbing in for the closing Mass on Wednesday, and the meeting’s organizers announcing that the final working document/summary of the meeting being delayed until Leo can read and feed into it. Those changes suggest that the timing of Leo’s surgery isn’t of his own choosing, and he is acting on the best medical advice he can get by moving urgently. Had this issue been discovered weeks ago, it seems reasonable to assume the pope would have seen it dealt with before the meeting began. And were it possible to delay it, even by a few days to allow the meeting to conclude as scheduled, the expectation would surely be he’d have opted for that. It cannot be excluded that Leo is simply having to fit in with the schedules of his medical team, but a man who occupies arguably the most important and prominent role in Italy, if not Western Europe, could generally be assumed to be the one whose calendar others work around. All this points to a very recent medical discovery leading to a “days matter” diagnosis, or at least suspected possible diagnosis. Of course, another factor weighing in the balance is Leo’s upcoming apostolic visit to three South American countries, including a return to Peru, where he spent many years as a priest and bishop. It is entirely possible that the doctors, and the pope himself, are more concerned about the potential knock-on effects of surgery, and the time needed for recovery, for a 71-year-old — even one as physically sound and actively sporty as Leo. The pope is due to depart Rome November 6 for his 10-day three-country trip, returning on Nov. 17. It may be that Leo has simply made the decision to allow maximum time for his own post-op recovery, and even allow for potentially unforeseen circumstances, so that he is at full strength for the landmark trip. While it might be an inconvenience, and clearly a last-minute wrench in the works for the Amoris meeting, it is possible that Leo simply weighs the importance of that conference more lightly in the balance than even the possibility of missing his homecoming trip to Peru, or even having to scale back his itinerary for the trip. If that is the case, it would suggest a real abundance of caution by the pope approaching his Latin American tour, and a sobering indication of where Leo ranks the non-synodal meeting currently underway in Rome. In any event, what can be said for certain is that the pope having to take this, of all weeks, out of his schedule for surgery and an extended hospital stay is extremely unfortunate timing. It is clear that this is a decision Leo has made on the advice of his doctors. Together, they clearly consider that the risks of delaying, even by a little as a few days, represents an unacceptable risk for the pope. Even expecting and allowing for Leo’s full and speedy recovery, that should be a very sobering thought for Catholics everywhere. Subscribe
The Smashing Pumpkins summon rage in Madison's Kohl Center
In a nearly three-hour performance, the Smashing Pumpkins captured a seemingly infinite nostalgia that intersected generations.
The Supply Side: Walmart execs bullish despite high fuel prices
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NCWV Business Summit to highlight economic trends, growth in West Virginia
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The Chambers of Commerce of Marion, Monongalia, Harrison and Preston counties will host their 12th annual NCWV Business Summit at High Tech Foundation in Fairmont next week,
Summerfest 2027 announces Foreigner as first BMO Pavilion headliner
MILWAUKEE (WKOW) — Summerfest and BMO announced the first headliner for the BMO Pavilion in 2027. Foreigner will perform July 2, 2027, as part of the band's 50th anniversary tour.
Meet the Sioux Falls Development Foundation's new VP of workforce development at upcoming WIN Summit
A new leader for talent and workforce development will share her vision for the role at the upcoming WIN in Workforce Summit.
UK and EU confirm date of summit after Burnham says Russian meddling shows the need for closer ties
LONDON (AP) — Russia’s attempts to meddle in European politics show why Britain must forge a closer relationship with the European Union, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday, arguing that “the sta...
Florida football coach Jon Sumrall defends Gators fans booing team
Florida head coach Jon Sumrall didn't mind the boos from fans on Saturday.
Calling payment processors ‘crucial intermediaries between businesses and consumers,’ FTC cracks down on two companies
Saying that taking action against payment processors is an effective way to reach foreign and domestic businesses that scam consumers, the FTC has
Natalie Morales Joins Flow Space Women’s Health Summit in L.A.
Natalie Morales, award-winning journalist and TV personality, is joining the lineup of SHE Media's Flow Space Women’s Health Summit on Oct. 15.
Natalie Morales Joins Flow Space Women’s Health Summit in L.A.
Natalie Morales, award-winning journalist and TV personality, is joining the lineup of SHE Media’s Flow Space Women’s Health Summit this week. The Flow Space Women’s Health Summit will be held Thursda...
Natalie Morales Joins Flow Space Women’s Health Summit in Los Angeles
Flow Space, SHE Media’s digital and live media platform dedicated to women’s health, is holding its summit Oct. 15 at Penske Media Corporation’s L.A. headquarters.
João Gomes is exactly what Aston Villa need in midfield
João Gomes was Aston Villa's standout performer in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Brentford, and Dan Bardell believes the Brazilian is already demonstrating why he could become such an important player for Unai Emery following a summer of significant changes in midfield.
Lyndon Historical Society’s ‘Pies On The Porch’ Oct. 17
LYNDON — The Lyndon Historical Society will wrap up its summer and fall activities with Pie on the Porch at the Shores Memorial Museum in Lyndon Center on Saturday, October
AECOM appoints Dwight Pullen to lead its global Transportation business
DALLAS (October 12, 2026) — AECOM (NYSE: ACM), the trusted global infrastructure leader, today announced it has appointed Dwight Pullen as Transportation Global Business Line Chief Executive, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Pullen will lead AECOM’s global Transportation business, which is ranked No. 1 by Engineering News-Record. He assumes the role as AECOM pursues...
Valor Mortis Reviews Are Mixed Ahead Of Its Xbox Game Pass Day One Launch
Greater than the sum of its Bonepartes?
Heat’s Nikola Jovic believes he’s ready for bounce-back season: ‘I had to grow up’
Heat forward Nikola Jovic put in work this summer.
Elon Musk emerges as the top booster for Republicans with $276 million in donations
Elon Musk has poured at least $276 million into the midterms since the summer, re-emerging as the top known donor to the Republican Party.
Nairobi Science Summit dialogue calls for stronger Africa–Europe research partnerships
SEI Africa hosted a day of dialogue on how Africa and Europe can build fairer, longer-lasting research partnerships.
Join Us at INVEST Digital Health for a Conversation on Consumer-Centered Care across the Healthcare Ecosystem
Register for INVEST Digital Health, scheduled for October 29 in Dallas, for an engaging discussion on the impact of consumer-centered care from diagnostics to employer benefits and more.
Converting Waste to Black Gold
CALS student Joy Camenisch, a double major in animal science and agroecology, spent the summer in Spain, where she researched how composted manure can replace synthetic fertilizer.
Nintendo executive confirms company has "no plans to ditch physical games"
"We go off of what the consumer prefers," says Nintendo's vice president and general manager for Latin America, Bill van Zyll.
Fullspan Health on Winning the AI Search Revolution
As AI becomes a primary source of health information, healthcare marketers face a new challenge: ensuring their brands appear in the answers consumers receive. | Learn how Fullspan Health is helping brands improve AI visibility, build trust and engage patients across the healthcare journey.
Can AI Become Conscious? The Science Behind A Question At NDTV World Summit
As AI consciousness becomes a subject of scientific and philosophical debate, Swami Sarvapriyananda will explore whether machines can possess a mind of their own at the NDTV World Summit 2026 on October 22.
Zee 5 Global Drops ‘Sumo Didi’ Trailer Ahead Of Streaming Launch
EXCLUSIVE: Zee 5 Global has released the trailer for the streaming launch of Indian sports pic Sumo Didi. The Jio Studios, Fresh Lime Films and MA+TH Entertainment Networks film, which released theatr...
Hubert Hurkacz Has the Weirdest Big Three Resume in Tennis
No one ever talks about Hubert Hurkacz, so let's talk about him because the Pole has just done something rather ridiculous. By beating Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-3 at the Shanghai Masters, Hurkacz became only the fourth player ever to defeat Roger Federer on grass, Rafael Nadal on clay, and Djokovic on hard courts. The other …
How Chinese Brands Are Putting Aesthetics Before Business
As China’s consumer market matures, a new generation of brands is trading speed and scale for cultural depth, craftsmanship and a more deliberate sense of place.
Two Sigma's interns were more productive than ever thanks to AI
The $80 billion firm's 82 summer interns have raised the bar for what's expected out of future classes.
Moyes may offer Celtic solution next summer
Could experienced Premier League manager end up at Celtic, where his professional career started?
Is local produce safer? After Cyclospora outbreak, Ann Arbor business owners say yes
Ann Arbor residents, along with many other Midwesterners, found themselves rethinking where their produce comes from amid a diarrheal parasite outbreak this past summer.
Florida: Shane Beamer's Postgame Comments Should Bother Gators Players
After a demoralizing home loss, the South Carolina Gamecocks’ bold plan to silence The Swamp exposes a lack of grit that threatens to derail Jon Sumrall’s once-promising debut season.
NKY Health Department reports a busy third quarter — with programs to keep our region healthy
It was a busy summer for the Northern Kentucky Health Department, which strives to keep our region healthy in every way. Food health inspections, wellness kiosks. school inspections…
The Black British Business Awards 2026: Meet the winning leaders, innovators and changemakers shaping UK industry
Celebrating the brilliance, visibility and impact of Black British talent, this year's winners of The Black British Business Awards 2026 were chosen from Senior Leaders and Rising Stars spanning STEM, Fashion, Beauty & Consumer, Arts & Media, Entrepreneurs, Financial Services, Professional Services and Retail & Hospitality, underlining what can be achieved when organisations champion and amplify Black talent and allow it to #SHINE.
SUNY Optometry’s Inaugural Advancing Vision Summit Explores the Future of Eyecare, AI, and Public Health
NEW YORK—The SUNY College of Optometry Foundation recently brought together leaders from across healthcare for its inaugural Advancing Vision Summit: The Intersection of AI, Eye Care, and Public Health, held September 25, 2026 at CURE in New York City. The day-long event marked the Foundation’s 70th anniversary and explored the growing role eyecare can play in preventive health, an announcement from SUNY said. Sponsors and supporters of the event included EssilorLuxottica, CooperVision, Jobson Optical Group, Alcon, NFP, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Allison & Stephen Flink, Haag-Streit, Marco Lombart, Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Designs for Vision and VSP.