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UK 'joke' candidate Binface pushes serious point about politics
British politics has a long-cherished reputation for attracting the weird and wonderful. But in a pantheon of colorful characters, Count Binface, a man wearing a rubbish bin over his head, is stealing the show. The self-described "intergalactic space warrior" from the fictional planet Sigma IX takes on hardline anti-immigrant politician…
Cheese industry struggling under weight of tariffs, inflation and war
Rising costs of milk and shipping are impacting makers
Mamdani takes aim at Amazon subcontracting model in multimillion-dollar delivery bill fight
Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly threw his support Monday behind legislation that aims to reshape New York City’s last-mile delivery industry, escalating a fight
Todd Blanche is sworn in as attorney general after bruising confirmation fight
Blanche is officially taking command of a Justice Department he has been leading in an acting capacity since Pam Bondi's firing in April
1. Self-Certification System Leaves Small Business Contracts Unverified 2. Federal Contracting Relies on Firms to Police Own Size 3. Size Protests Emerge as Primary Small Business Eligibility Check
How small businesses self-certify for federal contracts with minimal SBA oversight. Explore size protests and eligibility verification gaps affecting...
Twice’s Jeongyeon signs with Varo Entertainment to launch acting career
The Twice member said the move marks a new acting chapter while stressing that her group activities and fans remain her top priority.
Minnesota woman sues Chipotle after burrito bowl allegedly caused Salmonella infection, sepsis
A Minnesota woman is suing Chipotle after allegedly contracting Salmonella from a burrito bowl, as health officials investigate a multistate outbreak tied to recalled jalapeños.
Is Accel Entertainment (ACEL) A Bargain As Earnings Growth Lifts Valuation Hopes?
Accel Entertainment (ACEL) is attracting fresh attention after its 4 August 2026 earnings update, which showed higher sales, revenue and net income for both the quarter and first half compared with the prior year. See our latest analysis for Accel Entertainment. At a share price of $12.16, Accel Entertainment has posted a 6.95% year to date share price return and a 10.34% 1 year total shareholder return, which suggests moderate positive momentum heading into the latest earnings and capital...
Here's why both of New Mexico's senators voted against Todd Blanche for Trump's Atty General
By a one vote margin, 50-49, the United States Senate voted early Saturday morning to approve President Donald Trump’s nomination of Todd Blanche, his former personal attorney and acting attorney general, to be the permanent Attorney General of the United States. Todd’s nomination was opposed by every Democrat and two Republicans, Susan Collins of Maine […]
Pacific Grove business creates clothing inspired by Navy secretary's 'witchcraft' comments
A Pacific Grove business has created a clothing collection inspired by acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao's viral comments about "a lot of witchcraft" in the area.
Heat impacting businesses across Texas
Businesses like Franklin Barbecue and Austin Ghost Tours have learned to make changes during the summer heat, both for customer and employee safety.
Malware Can Abuse Windows Hello for Business Keys for Persistent Entra ID Access
Windows Hello keys can be abused from signed-in Windows sessions to gain Entra ID access without extracting TPM-backed private keys.
This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition - Cultural Council warns arts funding cuts could ripple beyond City Hall
With Duval County budget season approaching, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville CEO Diana Donovan joins host Kent Justice to explain what proposed cuts to arts and culture funding could mean beyond museums and performances—impacting jobs, small businesses, youth programs, and services for veterans and military families.
Butterfly lilies wing their way to Science
Many animals and plants show left-right differences in how their bodies or organs are arranged, but we still know little about how such asymmetries evolve or how genes control them in natural populations. Mirror-image flowers, in which female and male sex organs are deflected to opposite sides in left- and right-handed forms, provide a notable example of such asymmetry. Here, we studied South African butterfly lilies, where individual plants produce only left- or right-handed flowers. Their mirror-image flowers promote outcrossing by depositing pollen from each floral form onto a specific region of a pollinator’s body that matches the stigma position of the opposite form. This suggests that selection for efficient pollen transfer between forms maintains this natural polymorphism. Our work uncovers a hemizygous supergene that coordinates the left-right orientation of female and male sex organs in mirror-image flowers by linking two independently acting genes for style and stamen handedness in a single, nonrecombining genomic segment. This architecture ensures the coinheritance of a matched pair of organ orientations that is essential for efficient cross-pollination between floral forms. At the developmental level, we show that floral handedness emerges from the interaction between an intrinsic tissue chirality and a gravitropic response that orients the style and median stamen relative to gravity. Together, these findings reveal how a supergene, hormone and microRNA signaling, tissue chirality, and an external physical cue combine to produce and maintain a stable left-right polymorphism in natural plant populations.
Ireland Contracting Nightly Sports Call: Aug. 5, 2026
How rising healthcare costs are impacting schools on Long Island and across the country
School districts have seen annual increases of 10% or more in health insurance premium costs, said Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association.
Small Business Owners Testify on U.S. Economic Growth
The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee holds a hearing on tax policy, artificial intelligence, and other issues impacting small businesses.
Expanding Financing to Match Today's HVAC Price Reality
As HVAC equipment prices soar due to supply chain issues and inflation, contractors are shifting towards offering diverse financing options to help homeowners manage costs, repair...
Rep. Zach Nunn, U.S. labor secretary say 2025 tax cuts help Iowa businesses expand
Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling toured an Iowa manufacturer with U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn as part of his Tuesday visit.
Emory biophysicist Shashank Shekhar’s research into tiny cellular force generators nets two major federal awards
Emory assistant professor Shashank Shekhar has been awarded $3.5 million in funding for his innovative research focused on how biochemical interactions influence actin, the vital protein responsible for cell structure and movement.
New ASE guideline aims to improve workplace safety for cardiac sonographers
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a major safety concern in the field of echocardiography, impacting up to 90% of all cardiac sonographers.
Emory biophysicist Shashank Shekar’s research into tiny cellular force generators nets two major federal awards
Emory assistant professor Shashank Shekhar has been awarded $3.5 million in funding for his innovative research focused on how biochemical interactions influence actin, the vital protein responsible for cell structure and movement.
Opinion: Separate political truths from lies. Democracy depends on it
Despite the deluge of lies we’re exposed to every day, please don’t give up on seeking, finding, and acting on the truth. Here are some techiniques.
Blanche rescinds 'anti-weaponization fund' for Trump allies after GOP senators threaten to block his AG bid
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has issued a formal order terminating President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate his political allies.
Yankees Pitcher Sends Strong Message After Luis Garcia Jr. Trade
The New York Yankees made another move ahead of Monday’s trade deadline, acquiring Luis Garcia Jr. from the Washington Nationals. Manager Aaron Boone didn’t waste time reacting to the addition.“He rakes. He can really hit,” Boone said.Garcia Arrives in the Middle of a Career YearGarcia enters the Yankees lineup hitting .283 with a .313 on-base […] The post Yankees Pitcher Sends Strong Message After Luis Garcia Jr. Trade appeared first on HEAVY.
Todd Blanche rescinds Trump's 'anti-weaponization fund' ahead of nomination hearing
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a formal order late Sunday terminating President Donald Trump's $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" to compensate his political allies.
Todd Blanche moves closer to confirmation after rescinding $1.8B fund
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche took a key step towards confirmation after meeting demands to rein in a settlement deal President Donald Trump reached with the IRS this year.
Acting AG Todd Blanche reaches deal with holdout senators to end $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hold a vote to advance Blanche’s nomination on Tuesday.
Blanche rescinds fund for Trump supporters after GOP senators threaten to block his AG bid
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has issued a formal order terminating President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund to compensate his political allies.
Juliette Lewis apologized to audience after ‘Cape Fear’ screening: ‘It was so disturbing’
Juliette Lewis is reflecting on acting in the 1991 ‘Cape Fear’ movie and making a surprise appearance on Apple TV’s new series of the same name: ‘It was a real trip trying to keep this type of secret.’
‘Just another day in South City’: Businesses react after vandals smash store windows along South Kingshighway
Local businesses are reacting after vandals targeted several businesses on South Kingshighway Boulevard - smashing their windows overnight.
Trump's housing regulator Bill Pulte says he'll hand over intel reins to Jay Clayton on Monday
The two-month tenure of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence will officially come to an end on Monday.
Trump's threat to push ahead on settlement fund injects new uncertainty into attorney general talks
Trump asserted in a Truth Social post that he would keep acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in his current role and press ahead on the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” if Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis refuse to back Blanche.
Sophie Cunningham says protests over transgender sports stance are not distracting Fever
Sophie Cunningham said rallies backing her stance on transgender participation in women’s sports have not affected the Fever’s focus as demonstrations continued on the road
Judge strikes down Houston minority contracting rule, leaving business owners uncertain
For more than four decades, Houston’s Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) Program has helped connect certified businesses with city contracting opportunities. Now, a federal judge’s ruling is changing part of that process.
Trump defends DOJ weaponization fund and attacks Cornyn, further imperiling Blanche nomination
President Donald Trump said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche “should be immediately approved” as his permanent pick for for the role and defended a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” that’s at the crux of why the nomination has not yet moved forward.
ACC, AMC Team wins Department of War small business awards
The Army Materiel Command Office of Small Business Programs team, which features Army Contracting Command personnel Gherin Fracasso, Anthony Piccolo, and Suzanne Anderson from ACC-New Jersey, earned several Department of War and Department of the Army Small Business Awards for their achievements in Fiscal Year 2025 during a ceremony at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.
Shift-Up promotes Stellar Blade 2 with AI-generated KPop music video featuring the game's main character
The video ends with Shift-Up developers interacting with an AI-generated Evie from Stellar Blade 2, chatting and eating together.
Texas economy booms as businesses, residents flee high-tax states
FOX Business correspondent Lauren Simonetti reports on how Texas' business-friendly environment and low regulations are attracting major companies on ‘Mornings with Maria.’
How a Houston contractor is using her business to open doors for single moms in the trades
Sandra Lopez built a successful contracting company while creating opportunities for single mothers and people new to the trades. Now, a LiftFund loan is helping her grow even more.
JetBlue’s Mint Makeover Reveals a Bigger Business Trend
JetBlue’s Mint refresh shows that winning today isn’t about attracting the most customers. It’s about creating a premium experience.
Trump says he may temporarily pull Blanche's nomination for attorney general as Republicans seek concessions
President Donald Trump said Thursday he may pull acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, looking to avoid concessions to holdout Republicans.
Rochester aims to lead as a national innovation economy
Greater Rochester aims to build on its innovation legacy to become a leading national innovation economy, attracting investment and creating jobs.
The new "science golden age" looks suspiciously like a grift
This edition of PN is made possible by paid subscribers. Become one ⬇️ 🚀 Subscribe to PN 🚀 The Trump regime is trying to usher in a “Golden Age in Science” where scientific research is run like a Trump family business, artificial intelligence is all that matters, profit is everything, and expertise is for chumps. Or at least that’s the vision emerging from a new 123-page “Report to the President” from Michael Kratsios, the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In a normal administration, you could probably skip over learning about a science policy document — but this is no normal administration, and this is no normal science policy document. Instead, it’s Trump’s attempt to end the actual golden age of science that was kicked off in 1945 with the publication of '“The Endless Frontier” by Vannevar Bush. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) [ Harmeet Dhillon demonstrates danger of posting through it ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) Liz Dye · Jul 29 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/harmeet-dhillon-portland) Bush, at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s request, laid out a vision of federal support for science that centered on funding universities to do basic research, saying that as long as those institutions were “vigorous and healthy and their scientists are free to pursue the truth wherever it may lead, there will be a flow of new scientific knowledge to those who can apply it to practical problems in Government, in industry, or elsewhere.” Kratsios’s report is supposed to be the successor to Bush’s, and even apes the format, but this isn’t really a document about science policy. It’s one about ending science research as we know it in favor of shoveling cash at big tech companies. While it might be temping to wave this away as an aspirational policy document, Trump has already begun to shift billions in research funds to AI projects and has taken a hatchet to science funding across the board. He’s teed up the shift Kratsios proposes here, and since neither Congress nor the Supreme Court seem inclined to stop him from doing whatever he wants with taxpayer money, it isn’t doomering or hyperbole to say we are staring down the barrel of a world where the only “science” the government intends to support is for-profit tech and defense advancements. Science for dummies Part of how you can tell this isn’t a document about science is that you are immediately faced with an absolute wall of business-speak of the worst sort. Did you know we must “tightly couple our science and technology enterprises to ensure that groundbreaking ideas invented in the United States are rapidly prototyped, tested, manufactured, and scaled domestically”? You do now! That tone isn’t surprising, because Kratsios has no background in science or research. He has a bachelor’s in political science and spent most of his career working for Peter Thiel at Thiel Capital. After a stint in the first Trump administration as Chief Technology Officer, where he also did not do any science, Kratsios was tasked in 2020 with overseeing the Pentagon’s research budget for a brief time, a position that, as the Wall Street Journal put it, “carries a great deal of power in terms of dictating investment allocations.” He spent the Biden years at Scale AI as “head of strategy,” which you will also note is neither a science nor a research job. But Scale AI has contracts with the Department of Defense and, as the Washington Post wrote in 2023, “has been aggressively pitching itself as the company that will help the US military in its existential battle with China.” And now you have the necessary background for our new golden age, which is going to be a golden age of taking money away from scientists and universities and giving it to companies like Scale AI. A note from Aaron: Working with brilliant contributors like Lisa takes resources. If you aren’t already a paid subscriber, please become one to support our work. 👇 Subscribe In a genuinely galling move, Katsios spends a lot of time slamming universities because of “administrative burdens on researchers” and the “well-documented inefficiencies” in academia, the message being that those damn universities waste the time of amazing researchers with paperwork. Except it’s the administration that is attempting to impose inefficient, unnecessary burdens on those researchers with a proposed Office of Management and Budget rule that would require senior political appointees to approve every science grant and ensure it aligns with Trump’s personal priorities. Researchers would also have to seek prior government approval to attend conferences or publicize their research. And political appointees could terminate any grant at any time if they feel like it. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) [ The murder of expertise ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) Lisa Needham · Jun 11 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/omb-rule-science-funding) But when it comes to AI, we’re going to “restore permissionless innovation.” The report proposes to give lucky ducky innovators a pile of cash up front for grants lasting five years or longer, saying “awards should be fully-funded in year one, with all resources earmarked upfront, to minimize administrative burdens and reduce pressure for researchers to generate intermediate results to secure continued funding.” Yeah, wouldn’t want to have to make the Very Special Tech Bros show results or get money parceled out year by year like the plebes at universities. The report also proposes that we should have “fast grants” with “simplified applications requiring just a few pages of writing” because that is definitely how science works, just writing a bit off the dome and getting some cash. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) [ Tech elites are turning AI into ChatGPTrump ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) Paul Waldman · July 29, 2025 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-ai-action-plan-altman-llms) Oh, and we should have prizes and challenges, where multiple teams compete. The proposed prizes include incentives like “advance procurement commitments,” which means the federal government agrees to buy whatever is being developed. There’s also “regulatory fast-tracking,” making sure all those great AI thingies don’t have to wait too long to be unleashed on a market. These aren’t incentives to do science. These are incentives to develop things with tax dollars that you can then sell to the government for more tax dollars. In the suggestion that might be the most unhinged, the most very opposite of how both government and research work, our new age will include “golden tickets.” That’s where an individual reviewer in an agency — yes, just one person — can “recommend unconventional proposals that may not pass consensus-driven review panels” because somehow this will “surface valuable ideas too divisive for committees and attract higher quality reviewers by empowering them to exercise independent scientific judgment.” Yes, that’s saying that a random person in an agency should be able to shovel money at some idea even if it can’t pass a review panel, and that the opportunity to do so will attract better employees because apparently all the best minds in science are chomping at the bit to be allowed to unilaterally fund AI research based on their personal vibes. But that isn’t at all how actual science works, and actual scientists aren’t unhappy about review panels. They work collaboratively, not siloed in some secret race to create the next AI chatbot. A 2020 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research examined whether peer review panels succeed in helping agencies predict which research ideas will best advance science. Peer review was better at finding “diamond in the rough” applicants than a single government program official. How about that. Trump always wants a taste It’s painfully clear that what Katsios is trying to do here is turn the whole of government science research and funding into the sort of “move fast and break things” paradigm that is the hallmark of big tech. That method works to line the pockets of tech executives, but it isn’t science. There’s a reason the government funds different kinds of research than private tech companies do. What Katsios either fails to understand or deliberately ignores is that the federal government is the main funder of basic research precisely because it can take a long time for it to bear fruit and is not intended to be profitable as such. “Basic” here does not mean rudimentary or simple, but rather research that is designed to advance scientific knowledge instead of achieving a specific outcome or product. Big tech companies don’t widely fund that sort of research, because it doesn’t make them money. Industry dollars account for only about 20 percent of basic research funding, while the government contributes around 60 percent. Big tech companies and startups do, however, rely on and benefit from that basic research. A 2019 study found that 35 percent of all patents obtained by venture-backed startups from 1976 to 2016 cited federally supported research. Basic research funded by the NIH contributed to every single drug the FDA approved from 2010 to 2016. [ ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) [ The Saudi nuclear farce and governance by whim and meme ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) Noah Berlatsky · Jul 27 [ Read full story ](https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-saudi-nuclear-deal) Unlike inventing the next ChatGPT, actual science is slow and iterative. Government funding of research that, on its face, would not appear to lead to any big new invention is actually what underpins those big new inventions. If the government hadn’t funded research into desert lizard venom, we wouldn’t know about semaglutide, and we wouldn’t have Ozempic. If research scientists hadn’t studied how bees optimize nectar foraging within a colony, we wouldn’t have the algorithm that assigns internet traffic across computer servers. The report assiduously ignores that a symbiotic, profitable relationship between the federal government, universities, and private companies already exists. Each federal research dollar generates about $1.50 to $3.00 in long-term economic benefits. The $36 billion the government awarded in NIH research funding in fiscal year 2025 generated $94 billion in new economic activity. Trump’s proposed new golden age is intended to strip those billions from universities, resulting in the dismantling of departments and the shuttering of labs. But Katsios has a plan for that: Universities should just become trade schools to churn out no-show STEM degrees! “Require universities and community colleges to embed practical technical training and externships into STEM curricula. Let hands-on experience and industry credentials count toward degrees.” It’s quite the feat to, on the one hand, strip schools of funding for scientific research while simultaneously demanding to control what is taught and, oh, also, colleges need to give degrees to employees at big tech companies just for being employees at big tech companies. The new golden age would also exacerbate the brain drain Trump’s policies have already caused. Nature found that in the first quarter of 2025, US scientists submitted 32 percent more job applications abroad than in 2024. A March 2025 poll by Nature of roughly 1,600 scientists found that over 1,200 said they were considering leaving the country. Europe is investing $565 million to make it a “magnet for researchers” and provide funding for scientists who relocate. The new golden age is also about embedding Trump’s xenophobia into the fabric of American science. The report complains of an “over-reliance on foreign students” that “creates a security challenge our institutions are ill-equipped to address” and that a “reliance on foreign talent sidelines American students.” This is, to put it mildly, nonsense. International students pay far higher tuition and often receive no financial aid. Their tuition dollars are what make it possible for American students to get financial aid. In the 2023-2024 school year alone, international students contributed $43.8 billion to the US economy and supported over 378,000 jobs. Those 1.1 million international students accounted for only six percent of the total number of students in higher education that year, but were such an economic engine that for every three international students, one job was created or supported. It’s impossible not to wonder whether part of Trump’s loathing for universities and their leading role in scientific research is that there is no way for him to corrupt the process and make money off it in the same way he can by giving millions and billions to Silicon Valley types who, in turn, give him millions in cash. There’s no way for his children to invest in universities that the government then gives no-bid contracts to, fattening the family’s bottom line, which is pretty much the Trump sons’ current venture capital practice. Trump and Katsios’s view of science is narrow, cramped, and wrong. We’re not in a crisis, we’re not a failed state. We’ve been a science superpower for decades, and the only thing that threatens that is Donald Trump. Tech bros are already living high off the hog in this administration. They don’t need any more of our tax dollars. Hopefully this new golden age never comes to pass. Thanks for reading Public Notice. This post is public so feel free to share it. Share We’ll be back with more tomorrow. If you appreciate today’s PN, please do your part to keep us free by signing up for a paid subscription. 🚀 Subscribe to PN 🚀 Thanks for reading, and for your support.
'This is revolutionary': New guidelines take aim at a syndrome impacting nearly 90% of U.S. adults
It’s not every day that physicians coin a new name for a disorder — and that the disorder plagues a majority of Americans. Last month, the...
Salt Lake Acting Company blends comedy with politics in recent premiere
The Salt Lake Acting Company (SLAC) premiered “The Gaslight Zone“, which brings humor to recent political topics. Every year, SLAC puts on a summer show that presents situations based on recent political events in a humorous, lighthearted and educational manner. This season’s show, “The Gaslight Zone,” runs through August 16 and blends local drag culture...
Prosecutors say Charlie Kirk was attacked for his politics, US judge blocks Houston's minority contracting program and more ➡️
☀️ Good morning from The Legal File! Here is the rundown of today's top legal news: 📝 EEOC stopped hearing federal workers' class action cases, union claims in lawsuit REUTERS/Andrew Kelly The U.S.
Houston’s minority business contracting program ruled unconstitutional
A white couple from Spring sued the city in 2023, alleging their lawn care business, Landscape Consultants of Texas, Inc., could not “compete on an equal footing with other businesses.”
National Survey on Drug Use, Mental Health
RDML. Christopher Jones, SAMHSA Acting Director, joins the show to talk about the recent SAMHSA survey.
Louisiana native Spencer Williams Jr. paved the way for Black filmmakers. Why was he forgotten?
Who is Spencer Williams Jr.? He's probably best known for his final acting role as Andrew "Hogg" Brown, or simply Andy, in CBS's 1950s era television version of "The Amos 'n' Andy Show."
India's HDFC Bank finds employees' conduct in deposit pricing matter was business overreach, not misconduct
India's HDFC Bank said on Monday its board concluded employees involved in the deposit pricing of an Indian state agency had engaged in business overreach, rather than acting for personal gains or with any improper motive.
The star of ‘Reacher’ is actually a comedian masquerading as a Greek god
Alan Ritchson’s latest film, “Motor City,” is an action-packed tale set in 1970s Detroit. But he says Jim Carrey has influenced his acting more than Clint Eastwood.
Good Sports: Basketball twins draw Division I attention before starting high school
Fraternal twins Iman and Jihan Qamhiyeh have their sights set on playing basketball at the highest level, and their talent is already attracting attention from college programs before they begin high school.
LeBron James to the Sixers: Philly sports world reacts
The Philadelphia sports world is reacting to the news that LeBron James is joining the Sixers.
CrossCurrents: HVACR Business Intelligence
Welcome to the first edition of CrossCurrents: HVACR Business Intelligence. Each installment curates the most important headlines from outside the traditional HVACR press, drawing...
Georgia: Journalist jailed and comedian attacked for political satire
Reacting to the 14-day jailing of journalist Vakho Sanaia over his satirical Facebook posts and a reported assault on comedian Onise Okriashvili following a smear campaign in pro-government media prompted by a joke he had made, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Regional Director, said: “Beating up and imprisoning government critics […]
RTD small business open house connects vendors with contracting opportunities and resources
SBO and Contracting & Procurement thank all the vendors who attended, the project managers who shared their expertise, and Safety and Environmental Compliance, Facilities Maintenance, and RTD Transit Police for helping make the event a remarkable success.
Missouri Attorney General sues Kansas City over minority- and women-owned business program
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block Kansas City's minority- and women-owned business contracting program.
Government Contracting Surges, But Not for All
New report reveals federal small business contracting meets targets amid policy shifts. Discover mixed results and procurement changes affecting contractors.
House passes bill to fund the government until after midterm elections
Senate appropriators are working on a different version of a stopgap bill with the aim of attracting some Democratic support.
New Behavioral Health Director Announced
Dr. Cari Yardley has been selected as Nevada County Behavioral Health and Homelessness Director effective August 3rd.Dr. Yardley has been with Nevada County since 2021, serving as Acting Behavioral He
How businesses are supporting climate-resilient schools
Extreme climate events are impacting children's education and health worldwide. Here's how one project is seeking to address the issue at schools in India.
UFC Freedom 250 Fails to Knock Out The Ratings
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) If UFC fans wanted one image to say, “Hey, Paramount+ is crushing it with their UFC rights deal,” I could provide that image. Here it is: (Reminder: this is my creation of the Nielsen Top 30, since Nielsen doesn’t combine the lists or include sports. I take all three lists and combine them. Some streaming TV shows probably have higher ratings than many of the films on this list.) Look at that! UFC Freedom 250 is number one! It topped the Nielsen “Top 30” list for shows and films that made the top ten the week of 15-June. So if you’re a UFC fan or supporter of Paramount+, that’s the good news for you this week. This program topped the ratings charts for one week. Everything else is bad news, or at least a huge caveat to that story, which I’ll explain today in the first part of this week’s Streaming Ratings Report—for the weeks of 8-June and 15-June—which is a double issue since I’ve been writing on a bunch of topics recently. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and super relevant to Paramount+’s strategy, so it merited its own article. Let’s dive in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of June 8th to June 21st 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Check Out My Interview on UFC 250 at MMA Draw After you read this article, if you want even more thoughts on UFC and Paramount-Skydance/Paramount+, I did a written interview with MMA Draw. They asked me to answer some questions about UFC Freedom 250, and I was happy to chat with them. Find it here: [ The MMA Draw Newsletter Did Paramount really overpay for the UFC? What the data tells us so far If you know the history of American television, you also know that combat sports is often a leading indicator of the future… Read more a day ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Nate Wilcox and Zach Arnold ](https://www.themmadraw.com/p/did-paramount-really-overpay-for?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) I never thought I’d need a combat sports newsletter in my life, but the good folks at MMA Draw publish an excellent one on UFC, MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and more, analyzing both the sports themselves and the politics, economics and antitrust issues that impact them. Check the article and their newsletter out! Paramount+ Has Its Best Sporting Event of All Time…But Was It Worth It? Before we look at the UFC Freedom 250 data in particular, let’s talk about what we can’t say. Namely, let’s start with the lack of comparisons. First off, I’d love to put a chart out comparing this fight to past UFC fights on Paramount+…but we don’t have the data. This is the first time we’ve gotten Nielsen data about a Paramount+ UFC fight. As far as I can tell, Paramount provided data for the first fight, but it was a proprietary datecdote (saying it had “an average minute audience” of 5 million “views”) and then, for two fights, we got the linear viewership numbers when they aired on CBS, but no streaming data. Everything else was crickets. We also can’t compare this fight to other fights/combat sports on streaming, in particular the MMA and boxing, because Netflix also didn’t use Nielsen to track those events, opting for TVision and VideoAmp, respectively. (This isn’t Paramount’s fault, but does still suck.) We also can’t compare to UFC’s fights that used to be on ESPN+, since we don’t have any data for that, plus Disney+ didn’t have marquee fights. The comparisons would not be apples-to-apples. Can we compare to past Pay-Per-View fights? Absolutely not. The comparisons would absolutely NOT be apples-to-apples. That didn’t stop Paramount+, though, who bragged that their UFC events have reached drastically more people than past PPV fights. Duh. Sorry, but I gotta make this point again. A basic tenet of economics is that the cheaper something becomes, the more people consume or buy it. That’s Econ 101. (Sometimes pundits call things “Econ 101” that are actually like Econ 210 or even PhD-level economics, but no, this is really like first or second class basic economics.) Yet I still see one analytics firm consistently say that more people watch films on streaming than PVOD proves streaming which means that the streaming window is more valuable than the PVOD window. No, it’s not! Same thing here. Pay-Per-View events back in the day could be really, really, really expensive! So whole groups of people pitched in to buy them. That increased the perceived value of, say, the Mike Tyson fight. Or a UFC numbered event. So yes, the fact that Paramount+ makes numbered UFC fights essentially “free” if you’re already a Paramount+ member means consumption will go up. Obviously. Same for Netflix and their boxing matches. They’re talking about fights that used to cost consumers, in some cases, $50 in 1996…which is over $100 in today’s dollars. Over 1.6 million people paid that to watch the Tyson-Holyfield fight! Again, streaming is essentially “free”. Or $10 to $20, depending on what streamer we’re talking about and what tier you’re on. No wonder more people are “watching”. (Plus, Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing also helps these numbers.) UFC Freedom 250 Did Well…But I Have A Lot of Worries So what can we compare the fights to? Well, the good news is Nielsen put out that the fight averaged 7.0 million viewers for UFC Freedom 250, which is a solid number for a fight. We also know the length, at roughly 4 and a half hours. (I saw different run times, but this seems to be the consensus considering it started at 8 pm, had a delay and then finished after midnight on the East Coast. If you assume a shorter run time, then yes, the total hours viewed would go down.) That means I have the two numbers needed to add this to my Nielsen database. And then…I can compare this viewership to the NFL: And, uh, not great. But also within striking distance, mainly because the runtime for this event was so long. I’d also add that this event had viewership equal to a regular season NFL game on streaming, but if anything, it was more comparable to an NFL playoff or Super Bowl-esque event. And you can compare viewership to the top football games on broadcast, cable and streaming, and it’s not impressive at all: We can also compare it to other sports that week, including the NBA Finals and start of the World Cup: Again, not great. The NBA generated roughly four times as many average viewers each game for its NBA Finals. The World Cup has similarly big numbers. Also, that’s just a tiny fraction of the 25 most watched sporting events each week. The NBA, NHL and FIFA World Cup had many, many more games racking up hours. We could also compare this to other streaming programs to get an idea of “is this a good investment?” and here is how it ranks compared to other top Paramount+ programs: The worry here? Well, unlike scripted programming, which has rewatchability, older fights/sporting events have very little library value. Very, very few people are rewatching these fights, especially years from now. Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers. Then, in their quarterly earnings report, they only ended up with 700K subs. Not great! They claimed they dropped lower-value international subscribers, but that’s why I tend to discount subscriber additions when they’re leaked to the press.1 I expect we may see a bump again for UFC Freedom 250, but I’d caution using subscriber growth so soon after these events to judge the success, since new subs with high churn (see Peacock) aren’t great either. Also, analysts often want to attribute all subscriber growth to their favorite/pet show, and that just doesn’t make sense. The biggest caveat for UFC Freedom 250 and Paramount’s very first UFC marquee event is that these could be high watermarks for the sport. UFC Freedom 250 had an incredible amount of earned media coverage compared to most UFC fights. I mean, it had wall-to-wall national news coverage in the lead up to the event. (The first fight also had a lot of promotion from Paramount since it was first.) Other fights could reach this bar—say the Conor McGregor return to the Octagon—but they’ll be fewer and far between. Was This Deal Worth It? All to ask: is this Paramount deal worth it? In this case, I think the UFC Freedom 250 numbers are more distracting than helpful. This fight did well and compares well to other top sporting events. But we know that the first marquee event was at least a third smaller, if Paramount’s own data is to be believed. And it’s likely the other fights are much, much, much smaller. And then you get to the paycheck that Paramount-Skydance paid. FIFA’s World Cup cost about the same for Fox, but clearly generated multiples more total viewership. (Though it’s only every four years.) The NBA is much more expensive, but until the playoffs, they likely didn’t pay for itself. Even still, Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video likely overpaid. So, in that context, the NBA may be an overpay that makes the UFC look not so bad. But two overpays don’t make an underpay, to paraphrase the old cliché about wrongs and rights. And looking at UFC Freedom 250 as the likely ceiling of MMA on Paramount+, Paramount-Skydance likely paid too much. Share 1 I would love regular reports on subscriber additions by programs, but as is, it’s mostly leaked or rumored in haphazard ways.
Wildfires impacting businesses in northern Minnesota
Many businesses near the gunflint trail remain open regardless of wildfires. Golden Eagle Lodge is one of them. Owner of the resort Ruth Wagner joins All Day to talk about how they are open for business and safe from the fires.
‘Iowa is acting different’: Political expert discusses Democrats’ chances in Iowa
Political expert Charlie Cook, the founder of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said Monday he thinks Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand will win Iowa’s gubernatorial election, but the U.S. Senate race between State Rep. Josh Turek and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson may not be as competitive as Democrats might think.
‘Iowa is acting different’: Political expert discusses Democrats’ chances in Iowa
Political expert Charlie Cook said Iowa's U.S. Senate race may not be as competitive as Democrats might think.
NH's Business: Could the life science industry drive NH economy?
Fred Kocher sits down with Lucy Lange with the NH Department of Business & Economic affairs and Andrea Hechavarria with NH Life Sciences about how the life science industry has impacting the state's economy.
NH's Business: Could the life science industry drive NH economy?
Fred Kocher sits down with Lucy Lange with the NH Department of Business & Economic affairs and Andrea Hechavarria with NH Life Sciences about how the life science industry has impacting the state's economy.
For Gainesville High alum, acting in ‘Spamalot’ at Fox Theatre means a lot
Meet Delaney Benson, a Gainesville native who is returning home as a cast member of the touring company of "Spamalot," which plays at the Fox Theatre from July 21-26.
How Adam Sandler Apparently Wants To Help Travis Kelce's Acting Career
So are we getting Kelce in a Grown Ups film?
Manchester flower shop feels impact of high gas prices
Jacques Flower Shop in Manchester is one of the many small businesses in the Granite State that say conflicts thousands of miles away are impacting their prices. According to AAA, gas in New Hampshire crept up another two cents overnight, bringing the state average to $3.98 per gallon.
Nuclear deal that would permit uranium enrichment by Saudi Arabia in limbo awaiting Trump admin sign off
The Trump administration has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without enacting international safeguards intended to prevent nuclear weapons development, according to sources familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by CNN.
Ranking Member Markey, Senator Hirono Reject Trump’s SBA Policy Proposal that Harms Underserved Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
Letter (PDF) (Washington, July 17) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) submitted a comment letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) opposing a proposed rule change by Trump’s SBA to the 8(a) Business Development Program that would harm underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs. The 8(a) Business Development Program was created by Congress more than 50 years ago to level the playing field for small business owners and entrepreneurs who have faced discrimination in starting and operating their businesses. The SBA’s proposed change ignores the existence of historic discrimination that minority and underserved small businesses have faced and continue to face. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “SBA’s proposed rule ignores present-day barriers that entrepreneurs from minority and underserved communities face. Discrimination is not dead; minority entrepreneurs continue to face reduced access to contracting opportunities and capital, as well as racial threats and targeting, including unequal treatment, refusal by others to work with minority-owned firms, being called racial slurs, and bias in the workplace. These barriers lead to wide underutilization of, and less revenue for, minority-owned businesses compared to majority-owned businesses, as supported by decades of disparity studies. The proposed rule diminishes the history of systemic racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States by claiming that remedies for discrimination create discrimination in and of themselves.” The lawmakers continued, “The program has always been open to anyone who can prove they have experienced prejudice or cultural bias in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and other facets of our society. Nonetheless SBA has moved forward with the proposed rule. It lacks a reasoned basis, purporting that the federal government has discriminated against White Americans, but offering no substantive qualitative or quantitative data or research in support. If the examples provided in the proposed rule are the only basis for what constitutes discrimination to the agency, they are woefully insufficient. The final rule must provide strong evidence that there is discrimination against White individuals and show how the rule is narrowly tailored to address it. The record remains devoid of evidence of discrimination against White individuals on the basis of race.” Ranking Member Markey is fighting to protect federal programs that address historic discrimination against small business owners from minority and underserved communities, and for a small business agenda that ensures economic opportunity for all. In June, Ranking Member Markey released a statement condemning the SBA’s proposed changes to the 8(a) Business Development Program. Also in June, Ranking Markey released a new report highlighting Trump’s drastic reduction in federal contracting dollars awarded to American small businesses, including minority-owned small businesses. In February, Ranking Member Markey, alongside Senators Hirono and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), introduced the Strengthening Place-based Access, Resources, and Knowledge (SPARK) Act to spur entrepreneurship and increase access to capital and resources for underserved entrepreneurs nationwide. Ranking Member Markey previously held a field hearing in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to discuss how government and the private sector can come together to make entrepreneurship more accessible for underserved communities. Earlier in February, Ranking Member Markey secured funding with the Appropriations Committee for Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE Chapters, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers and provisions to rein in the Administration’s attempts to eliminate programs that support women, veterans, and underserved entrepreneurs. In January, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to oppose rule changes that would gut protections against discriminatory lending practices that harm small businesses. In December 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler expressing significant concerns with the SBA’s overly burdensome request and unclear guidance for extensive financial documentation over the holidays, as a part of their sweeping attempts to dismantle the 8(a) Business Development Program. In July and December 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent letters to the SBA Administrator demanding answers about the Trump administration’s efforts to limit economic opportunity for American entrepreneurs, including immigrants. In May 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to the SBA Administrator rejecting President Trump’s FY 2026 budget proposal and calling on SBA to immediately release funding for the entrepreneurial development programs, which include programs like the Women’s Business Centers and the Veteran’s Business Development Centers that support underserved small business owners. In April 2025, Ranking Member Markey introduced the New Start Act of 2025 to establish a five-year pilot program providing grants to support entrepreneurial development training for currently or formerly incarcerated individuals. In February 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent letters to the SBA Administrator and Government Accountability Office (GAO) condemning President Trump’s war on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and asking how the SBA intends to implement Trump’s anti-DEIA executive orders. ###
Blanche meets with Epstein accusers after demand from Republican senator crucial to confirmation
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met Thursday with accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the demand by a Republican senator whose support is crucial to advancing his nomination to lead the Justice Department.
Livestream: Mayor Sheffield, Detroit health chief to address wildfire smoke threat
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, Chief Public Health Officer Ali Abazeed, and other city officials will hold a press conference to address the ongoing health risks from Canadian wildfire smoke impacting the region.
Supplement that binds to microplastics may remove them from our body
A supplement comprised of dead bacteria seems to remove microplastics, and prevent their absorption into cells, by attracting them to the bacteria's rough surfaces
Military Health System experts collaborate with NATO partners on brain health guidelines to improve warfighter readiness
In reaffirming its commitment to implementing protective actions against blast exposure for warfighters, the Military Health System collaborated with experts across the Department of War to develop and release the NATO report, “Guidelines to mitigate military occupational brain health risks from repetitive blast exposure.” The landmark guidelines provide a deeper understanding of repeated exposure to low-level blasts in military training and the battlefield — impacting brain health, force health, and readiness.
Jennifer Garner praises ex-husband Ben Affleck as ‘incredible co-parent’: ‘He’s a great partner in that way’
‘The Five Star Weekend’ actress Jennifer Garner praises ex-husband Ben Affleck as an ‘incredible co-parent,’ and credits their dynamic for ‘freeing’ her to take more acting gigs now.
MA Dept. of Public Health
Smoke from Canadian wildfires is impacting air quality in MA. This creates hazy conditions and raises fine-particle pollution levels in some areas. Poor air quality can have significant adverse effect
Pokémon Go Fans React in Disgust as Players Hand-Picked to Attend Exclusive Times Square Event Sell Their Prized Mewtwo for Thousands of Dollars, Breaking the Game's Rules
Pokémon Go players are reacting in disgust after seeing fans who were hand-picked to attend the game's ultra-exclusive 10th anniversary Times Square event now selling off their unique Mewtwo on eBay for thousands of dollars — breaking the game's rules in the process.
What Blanche said about Trump, Epstein files during confirmation hearing for attorney general
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche tried to assert his independence from President Donald Trump during his confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Former Obama White House attorney says ‘it was a mistake’ to deal with Epstein and she regrets it
Former Obama White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler said she regrets interacting with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and believes now it was a mistake, according to opening remarks she delivered to House committee investigators as part of a closed-door interview.
State of Indiana to end minority and women's business contracting program
Gov. Mike Braun's announcement comes after Attorney General Todd Rokita issued an opinion stating that the Minority and Women's Business Enterprises program is unlawful.
Indiana Gov. Braun to end minority and women's business contracting program
The announcement comes after Attorney General Todd Rokita issued an opinion stating that the Minority and Women's Business Enterprises program is unlawful.
‘Nobody Wants This’ star Jackie Tohn reveals Jessica Biel convinced her to drop out of college
Jackie Tohn lived with Jessica Biel and her family as a teen, and Biel convinced her to drop out of college to pursue acting.
George Cardenas: Are TIFs an economic tool — or a secret cash cow?
Chicago needs TIF policy that is transparent, does not change per project, and increases the overall Chicago’s taxable value without detracting from it, George Cardenas writes.
HHS & VA Announce Bold, Comprehensive Partnership to Advance Rapid-Acting Mental Health Treatments for Veterans
HHS and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration on the research, clinical development, and responsible deployment to veterans suffering from serious mental health conditions.
Flutter Entertainment shares rise as investors appear to lean into bullish positioning
Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) is up 5.4% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.Analysis: No obvious new company-specific filing or earnings release appeared today, so the catalyst is not fully clear. This could be because investors are reacting to a mix of recent bullish signals, including fresh high-profile buying interest in the stock, optimism around Flutter’s scale in U.S. sports betting through FanDuel, an
UNE business dean leaving for post in Florida; interim leader named
Norm O’Reilly, inaugural dean of the University of New England’s College of Business, will leave his post after Aug. 28. Amir Mousavian will serve as acting dean.
Why AI is driving a record boom in new US startups
Artificial intelligence is acting as a force multiplier for entrepreneurs, sparking a record wave of new businesses.
Physicists recreate black hole energy extraction in the lab
Researchers have recreated the physics of extracting energy from a spinning black hole using a stationary device that produces synthetic ultrafast rotation. The achievement transforms a long-standing theoretical idea into a practical experiment and could inspire new advances in optics, wireless communications, and quantum science.
Wes Anderson's needle-drop genius gets its due at his Hollywood Bowl tribute
Anderson’s score work is planned to exacting detail. But this three-night stand with Bill Murray, Beck, Jackson Browne and more was played in the spirit of the way fans revisit his beloved films.
CCTV: Public Safety Tool or Entertainment Trend
CCTV systems have long been positioned across towns and cities, acting as enforcement tools to improve safety, monitor traffic, and serve as crime prevention. A clear example of the camera's
Why gold never tarnishes has finally been explained
Gold may have a secret self-defense system that helps it resist tarnishing. Researchers discovered that atoms on gold surfaces reorganize themselves into patterns that block oxygen from reacting with the metal, suppressing oxidation by up to a trillion-fold. Beyond explaining why gold jewelry stays bright for generations, the finding could help scientists create more powerful gold-based catalysts for manufacturing and clean energy.
What will Devlin bring to Rangers?
Sections of the Rangers support have long called on the club to recruit the Scottish Premiership's best talent, and the Ibrox hierarchy appear to be acting on that this summer. Both Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin were among Hearts' standout players as they came within minutes of a historic Scottish top-flight triumph. The Ibrox club have signed both without needing to pay a transfer fee and have also plucked manager Derek McInnes from Tynecastle.
VA taps familiar face as acting health secretary overseeing EHR work
Days after John Bartrum’s exit, John Figueroa takes up the reins of the agency charged with modernizing veteran health records for a second time.
WTA Ventures: Building women's tennis into global entertainment brand
Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, joins CNBC's Ritika Gupta to discuss how Wimbledon has showcased women's tennis as both a global sport and an entertainment property. She explains how the Women's Tennis Association is attracting high-profile brand partners, expanding commercial opportunities, and pushing for pay equity with the men's game.