SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " try " 10,350 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Democrats try to show unity in critical Michigan Senate race
With just 16 days until the midterms, candidates and top surrogates from each party have a packed schedule of campaign events. Follow for the latest on the trail.
Sunday football open thread
OK, no time for frills, fuss, or too many words. Tottenham Hotspur’s men’s team doesn’t play football until Monday afternoon/evening when they host Coventry, but there are still football games to watch and talk about, if you wanna do so. Which I assume you do, because there are always comments on these open threads, and […]
David Rafferty (opinion): Bigotry reflects a broader political pattern
'56% of Republicans defend Christian nationalism and ... Republican media and leaders regularly spout targeted, bigoted statements,' David Raffery writes.
Flaws become reinforcements: Engineered crystal defects strengthen metals without changing their chemistry
Scientists have found a way to use defects in crystals to engineer stronger materials, according to a new study.
The Political Economy of the Restaurant
Political organizer and chef Lewis Bassett’s The Full English offers a firsthand account of how English food has been shaped by industrialization, empire, and class from the vantage point of restaurants across the country.
Is Universal Health Services (UHS) Fairly Valued Or Is More Upside Left?
Universal Health Services: Stock Performance Snapshot With no single headline event driving trading, Universal Health Services (UHS) has been moving on recent performance data, including a last close of US$185.10 and mixed short and longer term returns. Over the past week the share price gained 4.4%. The move builds on a gain of 4.8% over the past month and 22.9% over the past 3 months, set against a year to date decline of 15.8%. For investors tracking the bigger picture, Universal Health...
Democratic Voices, Sunday: Science
Welcome to Democratic Voices, a series that features elected Democrats speaking out on Bluesky. Sundays I try to create some kind grouping other then by state. Today, Science. Sean Casten and Bill…
Country music singer rips ‘parasites’ accusing him of using satanic imagery in shows
He hit back at the critics during a recent interview.
Pols & Politics: Could the Minogue-Healey polls signal an upset?
GOP rival Mike Minogue won the two debates by a country mile over Gov. Maura Healey — according to two Herald online polls. Plus: California Gov. Gavin Newsom to stump for Healey
Across Farm Country, Economic Discontent Strains Republican Coalition
Farmers and ranchers have supported President Trump for a decade. But the war in Iran, tariffs and other administration policies have soured some on the G.O.P.
Nashville rocked by loss of 2 country music legends days apart. Here’s the latest
The two were beloved figures in the city.
Donald Trump’s White House blasts country music star: ‘Peanut-sized brain’
The president and the singer are not fans of each other.
Is Teladoc Health (TDOC) Cheap Following Its New AI Tools?
Teladoc Health (TDOC) just rolled out two AI tools inside its Solo platform, SoloVitals and SoloScribe, aimed at contactless vital sign tracking and streamlined clinical note taking for hospital and health system clients. Despite Teladoc Health unveiling AI tools aimed at making virtual visits smoother for hospitals, the 30-day share price return is down 10% and the 90-day move has fallen 41.24%. The 5-year total shareholder return has declined 95.88%, pointing to longer term momentum that...
Japan’s health ministry sets new guidelines for tie-up ads in movies and TV shows
The move came after a poster promoting support for cancer patients that the ministry created in a tie-up with a film drew criticism on social media.
How AI is reshaping microdramas as video format takes a ‘generational jump’
Microdrama industry insiders share effects of recent AI advances, from aiding editing to replacing actors. Is it a useful tool or a curse?
‘4,000 people minding our own business’: four decades on, Falklands again face a hostile Argentina
Facing a slump in the polls, Argentina’s president is making economic attacks on the islands’ oil industry, and suggesting its key fisheries industry could be next
France is aflame as protests over the cost of living devolve into chaos
Saturday's chaos was an escalation in violence after weeks of demonstrations in the country over the cost of living and funding for education.
Guardant Health (GH) Stock Looks Below Fair Value On A Huge Run
Guardant Health has turned into a dramatic long term story for shareholders, yet the real question now is whether the current US$158.60 price can be supported by the cash flows its business is expected to produce. With the stock sharply higher over several years and new clinical and regulatory developments landing, the focus has shifted to what the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) view of its intrinsic value suggests about that price. Over the past 3 years the share price has risen by very large...
After deaths at Stryker Sports Complex, Comcare emphasizes mental health support
“Events like this affect far more people than those that were directly involved.”
Seventeen's hot new JxJ unit are showing off their chemistry — with a little help from Pinterest
Jeonghan and Joshua from the mega K-pop boy band Seventeen are offering fans a dream to lose themselves in and a mood board for shopping
Seventeen's JxJ on music, chemistry and their joint Pinterest account
Seventeen's JxJ are debuting as a duo on Monday — and they picked Pinterest as a key platform to hype their album.
Three takeaways from Elon Musk's latest political donations
New filings show the world's richest person spent this summer again trying to help Republicans win office, with most of his focus on one candidate.
There's a crackdown on sports piracy - but is it already out of control?
The sports industry's lucrative business model is being undermined by dodgy TV sticks and illegal streaming links, writes Theo Leggett.
Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) Could Be 39% Undervalued After Argus Cuts It To Sell
Argus cut its rating on Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) to SELL, citing weak scores for management, growth prospects, and value, a shift that appears to be influencing how investors view the stock. Recent trading has turned against Sphere Entertainment, with the share price falling 28.3% over the past month and 27.4% over the last quarter. This points to fading momentum even though the year-to-date share price return is 9.8% and the 1-year total shareholder return is 76.4%. Scan beyond Sphere...
I drove my daughter 2,000 miles to college. It changed our goodbye.
I drove my daughter from Oregon to Missouri for college. Our cross-country adventure helped me feel ready to say goodbye.
Vinyl record junkies find a lot to love at Utica's Record Riots
Kirkland was one of hundreds of vinyl record enthusiasts to brave the chilly temperatures Saturday morning, Oct. 17, to attend the Record Riots traveling convention at the Deerfield Fire Station. Based in New Jersey, Record Riots is one of the largest network of vinyl shows in the country, with pop-ups stretching from Utica to Ohio to Virginia. The Utica Record Riot typically takes place three times a year.
No Kings rallies across U.S. urge voters to cast ballots ear...
No Kings rallies across the country on Oct. 17 urged Americans to vote early ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Demonstrators emphasized the power of the ba...
Polygon CEO Sees Coinme Deal as Entry to Payments Business Led by Visa, Stripe
Polygon Labs (CRYPTO: $POL) expects its regulated payments business to turn profitable in 2027, according to CEO Ma...
America's politically divided Jewish community braces for Israel's elections
Netanyahu’s supporters, especially among Orthodox Jews, believe he’s protecting a country they love as central to their identity. Many liberal and younger Jewish Americans believe his policies have harmed Israel’s global standing.
Science Applications International (SAIC) Could Be 12% Overvalued On CFO And Leadership Changes
Science Applications International (SAIC) is reshaping its senior leadership after appointing Kenneth B. Crews as incoming Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, while existing CFO Prabu Natarajan transitions to lead the Civilian Business Group. The leadership reshuffle lands at a time when Science Applications International’s share price has climbed 15.2% over the past 90 days and 31.47% year to date, while the 1-year total shareholder return of 38.29% points to momentum that...
Criminal Justice Reform Isn’t Dead, Despite GOP Attack Ads
A familiar tough-on-crime election strategy is making a comeback, even as Republican and Democratic lawmakers keep passing reforms across the country.
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, according to the Health Ministry.
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, the Health Ministry said Saturday.
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, according to the Health Ministry. Another person linked to the initial case also tested...
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, the Health Ministry said Saturday. Another person linked to the fi...
Kenya’s Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
Three Kenyan health workers have tested positive for Ebola after caring for the country's first confirmed case, according to the Health Ministry
Kenya confirms four new Ebola cases, bringing total number to seven
Oct 17 () - Kenya confirmed four new cases of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus on Saturday, including three health workers who treated the country's first patient, bringing the total number of confirmed ca...
Miley Cyrus breaks down in tears while paying tribute to Dolly Parton at her Los Angeles concert: ‘I miss her’
She played “Jolene” to honor the late country singer, who died on Aug. 25.
Is Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Undervalued Following Its Brazil Exit And Legal Probe?
Brazil exit and legal probe put Flutter Entertainment in focus Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:FLUT) has halted sports betting and iGaming in Brazil after nationwide restrictions on online gaming, a move tied to a new Pomerantz LLP investigation into potential securities law violations. Recent regulatory concerns have coincided with pressure on Flutter Entertainment’s shares, with the 30-day share price return down 22.5% and the year-to-date share price return down 65.4%. The 1-year total...
They're blowing up pumpkins at Utah Tech
To celebrate National Chemistry Week, the Utah Tech University Chemistry & Biochemistry Department and Chemistry Club are teaming up to help the community learn in fun and interactive ways.
Country singer's secret weapons for healing and staying healthy through life's ups and downs
Country music singer Karen Waldrup, based in Nashville, shares the importance of getting enough sleep, staying hydrated and embracing healthy routines to stay well through life's ups and downs.
AMC Movie Trivia App Launch At AMC Stock Has Changed Its Investment Story
AMC Entertainment Holdings has launched AMC Movie Trivia Game Show, a free mobile trivia app created with Hoyt Games and puzzle designer David L. Hoyt, featuring daily movie themed puzzles and AMC Stubs integration. The app shifts part of AMC Entertainment Holdings' customer interaction into mobile gaming and extends the loyalty program into everyday engagement beyond theater visits. The next point of consideration is how AMC Entertainment Holdings' investment narrative might be influenced...
PENN Entertainment (PENN) Slides 16% In A Month, Is The Discount To Fair Value Warranted?
PENN Entertainment (PENN) has been drawing attention after a steep share price slide, with the stock down 16% over the past month and 27% over the past 3 months. The recent slide comes after a mixed stretch for PENN Entertainment, with the share price roughly flat year to date, while the 1 year total shareholder return has declined 8.1% and the 5 year total shareholder return has fallen about 80%. This points to fading momentum and a market that is still reassessing the company’s risk and...
Healthcare forum provides answers to North Country residents
Retired Dr. Christopher Hoy shared answers to community questions about healthcare based on his 35 years of experience in medicine.
Quin Hillyer: Louisiana is earning praise for business-friendly climate. Here’s what experts see.
A reputable business journal has ranked Louisiana near the top of the country for its business atmosphere. With some help from experts, columnist Quin Hillyer takes a look at what Louisiana is doing well and why it’s on the verge of doing even better.
Can Cereal Be Healthy? Big Companies Are Trying.
As more Americans turn away from the snap, crackle and sugar, the industry is trying to capitalize on our current obsession with wellness.
I’ve spent most of the year talking to MAGA supporters. Here are 5 things I’ve learned
CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan has spent 2026 talking to Trump supporters across the country. Many are frustrated about the Iran War, angry over the growth of data centers and unsure about what’s next.
Kenya dispatch: health ministry confirms first imported Ebola virus case as fears and suspicions collide
On Tuesday, 6th October 2026, Kenya's Ministry of Health confirmed the country's first case of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease. This comes after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democrat...
Does Debt Refinancing Change The Bull Case For Live Nation Entertainment (LYV)?
Live Nation Entertainment has issued US$730 million of 7.125% senior notes and €600 million of 6.125% senior notes, both due 2032, with guarantees from key restricted subsidiaries and plans to redeem its 6.500% senior secured notes due 2027. The refinancing reshapes Live Nation Entertainment's debt profile by swapping secured 2027 obligations for longer dated unsecured bonds, which can influence interest costs, covenant flexibility, and how much cash stays available for venue investment and...
Franciscan Health, Tonn and Blank planning Michigan City medical office building at former Marquette Mall
Press release, Franciscan Health: Project supports healthcare ministry’s regional approach to healthcare MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Franciscan Health, in partnership with Tonn and Blank Construction, is planning a medical office building on a portion of the former Marquette Mall property. Franciscan Health plans to operate a 120,000-square-foot medical office building through the renovation of the former J.C. Penney store at the northwest corner of U.S. 421 and U.S. 20. The land is just 2.5 miles north of Franciscan Health Michigan City, which sits at U.S. 421 and Interstate 94. The building will house more than 45 physicians, cost-effective imaging, an
Business merger bodes well for Bellingham's cider scene
Sitting down with 2 industry pros from Bellingham Cider Co., Lost Giants
Trump suspends new Russia sanctions following deal to purchase diesel, citing ‘national interests’
Passed by Congress with bipartisan support, the sanctions were intended to limit Russia’s revenue streams as the country continues its war against Ukraine.
Trump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest
Trump's unexpected move comes a week after he said the U.S. had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices.
A $100,000 Science Prize Could Leave His Social Security Checks Intact, but Still Raise His Tax Bill
A $100,000 honorary science prize sounds like a clean windfall, but for a retiree on Social Security, the tax math that follows can turn a moment of recognition into a costly surprise.
Sports is a $1 trillion business. More students want in on the action
As the global sports industry booms, enrollment in MSU Denver’s Sports Management program has more than doubled.
Sports is a $1 trillion business. More students want in on the action
As the global sports industry booms, enrollment in MSU Denver’s Sports Management program has more than doubled.
Meta denies accusation of anti-Lula political bias in Brazil after electoral court ruling
SAO PAULO (AP) — Tech giant Meta denied accusations Friday that it acted with political bias during Brazil’s presidential campaign, less than a day after the country’s electoral court ruled the platform must give equal treatment to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and opposition candidate Fláv...
Meta denies accusation of anti-Lula political bias in Brazil after electoral court ruling
SAO PAULO (AP) — Tech giant Meta denied accusations Friday that it acted with political bias during Brazil’s presidential campaign, less than a day after the country’s electoral court ruled the pla…
Staff Turnover and Missing Funds: A Tumultuous Week at Trump’s White House
With just over two weeks remaining before the midterm elections, things inside the White House are turbulent. Even though President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, he is top of mind for many as they head to the polls. Republicans across the country are already working to persuade voters not to ...
What causes sleep paralysis; health indicators of Alzheimer's diagnosis; sober October; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources
(iStock) Food and Wine interviewed Peter Martin, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for a story about sober October. William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted in CNN International’s Connect the World with Becky Anderson and NewsNation Morning in America for stories about the reported plague situation in Russia, after a laboratory worker at an institute in Siberia dedicated to studying the plague and other infectious diseases died of a mysterious illness. Prevention interviewed James McGuirk, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Sleep Medicine, for a story about what causes sleep paralysis. Modern Healthcare interviewed Daniel Fabbri, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Computer Science, for a story about how health systems are managing AI token costs. WNKY interviewed Ziv Beckerman, MD, Associate Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Surgical Director of Pediatric Heart Transplantation in the Golisano Pediatric Heart Institute at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt about rapid recovery with extended ultra oxygenated preservation (REUP) that is a new form of preservation for heart organs. Ray Romano, PhD, MPH, MSN, Nurse Practitioner, Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, was quoted Prevention about research that found other health issues may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s.
Headspace Issues Layoffs Following Sword Health Acquisition
It has been a little over two weeks since Sword Health's acquisition of the San Francisco-based digital therapy and psychiatry company Headspace officialy
Headspace Issues Layoffs Following Sword Health Acquisition
It has been a little over two weeks since Sword Health's acquisition of the San Francisco-based digital therapy and psychiatry company Headspace officialy
Horse carriage drivers rally against ban ahead of vote to end industry
A full council vote on the bill is scheduled for Oct. 22.
VRE7 TV, a Red-Carpet Entertainment Network, Opens Casting Call for Fans, Creators and Industry Insiders
The independent network pairs its celebrity interview archive with on-camera takes from fans in the new VRE7 Front Row documentary series.
Parkview Health acquiring shared services vendor Ovation Healthcare
Parkview Health is acquiring Ovation Healthcare, a nationwide shared services vendor for providers, the Indiana rural care system announced Friday. | Parkview Health is taking its shared-services strategy nationwide with a deal to acquire Ovation Healthcare, which works with nearly 500 healthcare organizations across the country.
Princess Kate poses for rare new portraits
Princess Kate is bringing royal glamour to the British countryside.
Indigenous Biz Con explores a renaissance in Tribal business, technology and entertainment
Indigenous Biz Con returned for its fifth year Oct. 11-13, bringing Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs and community members to Milwaukee to explore a potential economic renaissance for Indian Country. The annual conference, held at Potawatomi Casino, featured discussions on the current state and
Indigenous Biz Con explores a renaissance in Tribal business, technology and entertainment
Indigenous Biz Con returned for its fifth year Oct. 11-13, bringing Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs and community members to Milwaukee to explore a potential economic renaissance for Indian Country. The annual conference, held at Potawatomi Casino, featured discussions on the current state and
Ole Miss vs Missouri: A CFB27 Simulation
Heading into this digital match up, Ole Miss is 5-0 and #2 in the country while Missouri is unranked with a 4-2 roster. They also obviously have Ahmad Hardy as the starting running back, but Roberts has been so good, we can accept the performance by Hardy as a reasonable result regardless. Let’s see how […]
Sell Rating Could Be A Turning Point For Sphere Entertainment Stock (SPHR)
Argus recently cut its view on Sphere Entertainment to a SELL rating, citing weaker scores on management quality, growth potential, and valuation, while assigning only medium marks to financial strength and the industry backdrop. The downgrade highlights a key tension in Sphere Entertainment’s story: an experience-heavy, capital-intensive model that faces questions about execution discipline and long-run profitability. This raises the question of how Sphere Entertainment's investment...
R.I. Health and Human Services head to replace Roger Williams, Fatima hospitals CEO
Revolving door? Richard Charest’s jump from government to industry raises ethics questions.
Jonathan Kuo receives 2026 National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Jonathan Kuo, assistant professor of chemistry, has been honored with a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Carriage drivers, union leaders oppose NYC plan to eliminate industry by mid-2028
Horse-drawn carriage drivers, business owners, and union leaders gathered near Central Park on Friday to push back against plans to phase out New York City's horse carriage industry.
Hill Country businesses get more time to apply for flood recovery grants as holiday season nears
Miranda Lambert exhibit coming to Fort Worth’s National Cowgirl Museum
FORT WORTH, Texas — One of country music’s biggest stars is getting an exhibit at a Fort Worth museum. The National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that
Texas Upstream Employment Down in September
Citing the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) highlighted new employment figures for the Texas oil and natural gas industry. According to TIPRO, employment in the Texas upstream sector decreased by 500 jobs between August and September 2026
Fastest Warming Congressional Districts Where Politician Is Funded By Fossil Fuel Industry
The midterm elections are less than a month away, and 35 seats in the U.S. Senate, as well as...
Nurses at Naperville’s Endeavor Health Edward Hospital seeking to form union
Registered nurses at Endeavor Health Edward Hospital are taking the first steps toward trying to form a union.
AASHTO Journal - State DOTs Use Art to Promote Safety, Health, Beautification
Across the country, state departments of transportation are using a bevy of artistic approaches to promote safety, health, and community beautification efforts. [Above photo by Oklahoma DOT] For example, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is currently seeking student participants for its “Keep Our Land Grand” poster contest. Formerly known as the “Trash Poster Contest,” the […]
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of Oct. 12, 2026
Each week we highlight five things affecting the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
Registration is open for high school winter sports
Registration is now officially open for high school winter sports for the City School District of Albany! Any student in grades 9-12 who is interested in trying out for boys' basketball, girls' basketball, bowling, cheerleading, boys' indoor track, girls' indoor track, spirit team, boys' swimming and diving, boys' wrestling and girls' wrestling is invited to register via Final Forms. Important: please note that registration for winter sports ends on Friday, Nov. 13. Practices and tryouts for winter sports begin on Monday, Nov. 16. FINAL FORMS Each season, the following must be done prior to the first day of tryouts and practices: A parent or guardian must initiate the registration process for their student-athlete in Final Forms, filling out the required forms such as Interval Sports Health History and the Athletic Consent Form. The student-athlete must sign and complete their required forms. A reminder that all students who would like to play an interscholastic sport need to have a current physical conducted within a year on file. PHYSICALS A physical conducted within the last 12 months is mandatory for any student interested in trying out for an athletic team and must be uploaded into the Final Forms platform. Families are encouraged to get a completed physical from their child's physician. If you are unable to get a physical from your child's physician, you can schedule a free physical with Whitney Young's school-based health center by calling (518) 573-2556. Additionally, the district physician will also be available to facilitate sports physicals at Albany High in room 4253 on the following dates: Thursday, Nov. 12 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sports physicals on Nov. 12 and 13 are free and no appointment is necessary. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Please note that students must have a good attendance record and be in good standing academically to be eligible to participate in an athletic team. Eligibility is determined based on quarterly grades, and interim progress reports will serve as an important academic checkpoint for all student‑athletes. For additional details about academic eligibility, please see our Athletic Code of Conduct. For our winter teams, academic eligibility to start the season will be based on final first-quarter grades. The first marking period ends Nov. 13. Albany High offers free tutoring facilitated by Albany High teachers Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m. for students who need extra help with their academics. See this flyer for additional details. IMPORTANT DATES Seniors, please mark your calendars for Senior Media Day for winter sports, which will take place on Monday, Nov. 30. All student-athletes playing winter sports will also participate in our winter sports picture days, which will take place Tuesday, Dec. 15–Thursday, Dec. 18. Specific dates and times for each team will be shared once rosters are finalized. OPEN GYM SESSIONS Student-athletes are encouraged to check out our open gym sessions as they prepare for upcoming sports seasons. We’re looking forward to a rewarding winter sports season this year! If you have any questions, please contact the Athletic Department at (518) 475-6310. Go Falcons!
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Cherokee Nation citizen uses pageantry to champion sustainability and mental health
Cherokee Nation citizen Seyton Thomas was recently named Miss Collinsville 2027 after a four-year hiatus from pageantry.
M.A. Silva adds two wine industry veterans to sales team
The Santa Rosa cork and glass packaging supplier creates a business development position and hires an account manager with 28 years of experience.
Morocco health alert issued due to diphtheria: US Embassy
In the North African country of Morocco, the country’s Ministry of Health reported a small diphtheria outbreak with clusters in multiple regions in Morocco in late September. Moroccan health teams are tracing contacts and providing preventive treatment and vaccines. This has prompted the US Embassy to issue a health alert for U.S. citizens in Morocco. Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. It spreads primarily from person to person through coughs and sneezes (respiratory droplets). Most Americans were vaccinated as children and have received Td or TdaP boosters as adults. The risk to U.S. citizens in Morocco remains low. U.S. Citizens may contact their local doctors if they would like immunizations. Embassy officials advise citizens to watch out for the following symptoms: Sore throat or hoarse voice, mild fever, a thick gray or white coating in the throat or nose, swollen neck and trouble swallowing or breathing. If you or a family member has trouble breathing or swallowing, please contact your local doctor. They also advise on the following actions concerning vaccines: Check your vaccination records and your family members’ records. Get a booster if you need one. Adults need a diphtheria booster (Td or Tdap) every 10 years. Make sure your children are up to date on their routine vaccines. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Advancing Hope: 15th ISFTD Conference Brought the Latest Updates in FTD Science to Philadelphia
AFTD and FTD Disorders Registry staff attended the 15th annual ISFTD conference in Philadelphia to learn the latest updates in FTD science.
Northwest Side Burglary Spree 'Crushing' For Small Businesses Trying To Stay Afloat
A group of men drove a stolen Kia across the Northwest Side Wednesday morning, where they targeted at least 23 businesses, police and business owners said.
Plague is stoppable. The next health threat may not be.
The word plague is scary. Centuries ago, the Black Death killed tens of millions of people and changed the course of history. Plague still kills people around the world, and the word still evokes catastrophe. New fears of plague surfaced on October 2, when a lab worker in Irkutsk, Russia, died of pneumonia. Reports suggested that she may have contracted plague through a laboratory exposure. Understandably, people were alarmed. On October 7, the World Health Organization called for the Russian Federation to be transparent about what it knew. WHO issued an update on October 10. Russian authorities told WHO that testing did not identify plague and that investigations found no laboratory release. WHO said confidence in its risk assessment remained limited and that further clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory information was needed. The cause of the woman’s illness remains unknown, and WHO says a laboratory-associated exposure cannot be excluded. As I explained in a recent interview, this incident is very unlikely to lead to a pandemic. Plague is still active, including in the U.S., which sees a handful of cases each year. But it is a disease we can prevent and treat. Plague doesn’t spread readily, and it responds to antibiotics. The standard response—isolate the patient, trace contacts, and administer antibiotics and monitor for symptoms among contacts for seven days—works. We have even planned for antibiotic-resistant plague. At CDC, we developed a playbook for antibiotic-resistant plague and ran exercises on how to find and stop it. CDC guidance anticipates engineered resistance and recommends two different classes of antibiotics if there’s reason to suspect it. There is no evidence that resistance—or even confirmed plague—is involved in this incident. We have thought through how to address plague, but we’re not ready for the next major health threat that emerges from a lab or from animal spillover to humans. What should concern people is how little stands between the world and the next pathogen to get loose. Since peak COVID, epidemic preparedness has fallen off the political agenda, but the risk is greater than ever. More labs handle dangerous pathogens with more ways to make those pathogens deadlier, and more people live and work in close contact with animals. There are actions we can take now: We need better lab safety in every country. The number of labs that work with dangerous pathogens has increased worldwide over two decades, but there’s no enforceable international standard and no inspection regime; the Biological Weapons Convention, fifty years on, still has no verification mechanism. Labs that study dangerous germs need strong safety systems, training, and oversight. We need to reduce spillover events. Three in four emerging human infections start in animals, and there’s a lot we can do to reduce spillover risk, but the world is doing very little of it. Live-animal markets are one place to act. For instance, closing live-bird markets helped control H7N9 influenza in China. Reducing opportunities for people to encounter infected animals can prevent infections before they become outbreaks. In The Formula for Better Health, which is now out in paperback along with the hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook versions, I argue that labs do too many risky experiments with too many dangerous pathogens in too many institutions, and that every experiment should first answer one basic question: Is the likely benefit greater than the risk? Spillover risk can also be reduced: In the book, I discuss how Brazil cut its deforestation rate by 70% from 2004 to 2012 while increasing agricultural production and reducing risky contact between people and forest animals. We need faster detection and response. Delay costs lives. Strong surveillance, good labs, and trained responders can turn a single case into a small cluster of infections instead of an epidemic. Resolve to Save Lives has worked for nearly a decade to help countries find and stop outbreaks faster. The 7-1-7 target, which Resolve to Save Lives developed with partners in Uganda and elsewhere, provides a clear standard: detect within 7 days, notify within 1 day and complete all essential early response actions within 7 days. In Uganda’s Kasese district, for example, a review of a measles outbreak using 7-1-7 identified shortages of accessible funds, fuel, and vehicles that delayed the response. District leaders established funds they could access quickly. When, a few months later, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever appeared, the district detected it in three days, notified authorities in one, and mounted an effective response in two. Only one case was confirmed, and the patient survived. Because funds were available before the emergency, authorities were prepared and able to act. This kind of preparation can’t wait until the next crisis begins. Plague is an old disease we that know how to stop. The next threat may be harder to recognize, harder to treat, and easier to spread. Safer labs, less risk of spillover, and faster outbreak detection and response need sustained investment now, while we still have time to prevent the next emergency. Share
Bills aim to avoid letdown in Las Vegas as Raiders seek rebound
Buffalo will come into its game against Las Vegas trying to maintain momentum. The Bills could learn a lesson on what not to do from the Raiders.
Renue by Science Launches Research Community to Bring Real-World Health Experiences Into Scientific Research
/PRNewswire/ -- People try supplements, track their sleep and experiment with wellness routines, but it is hard to know whether the changes they notice are...
National newspaper supplements mark World Mental Health Day 2026 in Bangladesh
To mark World Mental Health Day 2026, special newspaper supplements were published across nine national newspapers in Bangladesh, helping bring mental health messages to readers across the country. The supplements appeared in seven Bangla-language and two English-language newspapers: Bangladesh Pratidin, Bhorer Akash, Jaijaidin, Jugantor, Kalbela, Dainik Amader Shomoy, Prothom Alo, New Age and The Daily Star.
Republicans are spending millions to oust a Democrat who won by 187 votes. Should he worry?
Adam Gray won California’s closest House race by 187 votes in 2024. Now, Republicans are spending millions trying to reclaim the Central Valley seat.
Big Tech and Big Business are spending millions to block progressives on the California ballot
Groups funded by Meta, Google, and cryptocurrency billionaires have spent millions trying to sway voters, especially in races with two Democrats on the ballot
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) Could Be 8% Undervalued As Cash Flow Hopes Build
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) is back in focus after its recent share performance, with the stock closing at US$29.25. Investors are weighing this price against mixed return figures across different time frames. Short-term momentum for Caesars Entertainment has been soft, with the share price return down over the past month. However, the year-to-date share price return of 24.15% and 1-year total shareholder return of 34.61% contrast sharply with a 5-year total shareholder return that is still...
Actinium Pharmaceuticals Appoints Radiopharmaceutical Industry Veteran Sean Maenpaa as Senior Vice President, Business Development
/PRNewswire/ -- Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: ATNM) ("Actinium" or the "Company"), a pioneer in the development of targeted radiotherapies,...
Gary Vee’s VeeFriends finds its place in the comic industry at New York Comic Con
In 2021, entrepreneur and internet personality Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as Gary Vee, introduced his new project, VeeFriends, a media and entertainment
BTS' Grammy boycott spreads to K-pop's biggest agencies
The decision of BTS to boycott the Grammys amid the newly introduced Asian pop category appears to have grown into an industrywide stand, with arti...
Letters: I applaud the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry for improving accessibility
On behalf of those who would like to enter the building through the same doors with their family and friends, thank you to the museum.