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INTERPOL and WHO sign agreement to strengthen global health and security protection
INTERPOL and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at tackling some of the most pressing threats at the intersection of public health and security.
Recent Suicide Attempts and Prior Mental Health Hospitalization Linked to Further Risk for Attempts in Adolescents
A recent suicide attempt, prior mental health hospitalization, nonsuicidal self-injury, and hopelessness are tied to subsequent suicide attempts among teens who screen positive for suicide risk.
Joe Manganiello shares shocking hospital photos showing dramatic weight loss after near-death health crisis
‘Magic Mike’ star Joe Manganiello shares photos of his dramatic weight loss during the health scare he writes about in his new book, ‘Bloodlines.’
425 Business-Hosted CEO Roundtable Focuses on 'Mind of the Market'
The main question posed at 425 Business' recent CEO roundtable event was: 'What is the mind of the market, and what has your organization changed this year to keep up?' Here's how the leaders who congregated responded.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Public Service & the Midterm Elections
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) discussed the 2026 midterm elections, public service, and the direction of American politics at an event hosted by Georgetown University's Institute of Politics & Public Service. Walz reflected on his unsuccessful 2024 vice presidential campaign, the need for Democrats to deliver policy wins if they hope to win the presidency in 2028, and his contentious relationship with President Trump. He also encourages young people to pursue public service and help shape the country's future.
Wisconsin elections officials issue guidance for handling federal agents at polls
Elections officials in battleground Wisconsin on Thursday approved guidance for local clerks to help them know what to do if federal law enforcement officials show up at the polls on Election Day, as some activists fear might happen.
Gov. Spencer Cox & Martin Luther King III Discuss Bridging Political Divides
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R), South Carolina former Gov. David Beasley (R), and Martin Luther King III discussed how faith leaders and political leaders can bridge political divides. They each shared a call to action, which included breaking bread with someone of a different background, working to make the world a better place, and preaching hope. The Salt Lake Tabernacle hosted the discussion.
Million dollar shot gala to benefit cancer care services
Naples Cancer Advisors, a community-based, non-profit organization that provides free consultative oncology services to cancer patients and their families, announced it will host the inaugural Million Dollar Shot fundraising gala
Katie Zacharia defends calling herself a lawyer in new interview
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia went on the record Thursday, saying she considered the results of her bar exam "inconsequential."
PAHO Director calls for country ownership and regional solidarity in reshaping global health architecture
Berlin, 15 October 2026 (PAHO) – Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director and WHO Regional Director for the Americas Dr. Jarbas Barbosa called for countries and regional institutions to have a stronger role in shaping ongoing reforms of the global health system during the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin this week, arguing that clearer responsibilities across national, regional and global levels can reduce duplication and help limited health resources deliver greater impact.
Trump’s history of deriding people who failed the bar exam
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia reportedly failed the exam.
SPINE ‘Customization Announce’ trailer, screenshots
Nekki has released a new trailer and screenshots for single-player story-focused action game SPINE introducing the game’s customization features.
Arisa Health CEO Laura Tyler to retire, successor named
Dr. Laura Tyler, CEO of Springdale-based behavioral health system Arisa Health, will retire Nov. 21 after several years with the organization. Ruth Allison Dover, chief legal officer, will become CEO...
Arisa Health CEO Laura Tyler to retire, successor named
Dr. Laura Tyler, CEO of Springdale-based behavioral health system Arisa Health, will retire Nov. 21 after several years with the organization. Ruth Allison Dover, chief legal officer, will become CEO...
Nina Dietz to Discuss the Public Health Impacts of Wildfires at the Milken Institute
Image The Department of Global Health at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health will host Pulitzer Center grantee and freelance journalist Nina Dietz at a Research and Practice Seminar. On Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 2:00pm-3:00pm EST, Dietz will present on her Pulitzer Center-supported project The Toxic Side of Climate Change. The project investigates the hazards left behind by urban wildfires in Los Angeles and examines the long-term risks these toxins pose to affected communities. The project also explores what remains in the ash and debris after a fire, and how those materials impact public health. Dietz is a writer, documentarian, and journalist reporting from a background rooted in both science and the humanities. Her work has appeared in New Lines Magazine, Inside Climate News, Science Friday, and at Photoville, among others.
Food Bazaar expanding with Western Beef acquisition
Food Bazaar operator Bogopa Service Corp. is acquiring 14 Western Beef stores, including four on Long Island, expanding its supermarket footprint.
MOSI Spooky Science & dental hygiene month
FOX 13's Regina Gonzalez takes us front row to MOSI's Spooktacular Science and talks to an expert about dental hygiene.
Trading baseball diamond for the next challenge, business management degree
For seven years, Jacob Gonzalez pursued a career in professional baseball – the same path forged by his father, Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez. When that […]
Rocky Horror Picture Show, Haunted Hallway return to Rome
Rome's Capitol Theatre hosts The Rocky Horror Picture Show and free Haunted Hallway Bazaar on Oct. 24, featuring costumes, entertainment and more.
Justice Composed the Score for Grand Theft Auto VI
The French electronic duo have also tapped Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard for a new song from the game’s soundtrack
Jeff Kaplan Doesn't Engage With Overwatch After Leaving Blizzard: ‘I’ve Literally Not Played The Game Since April 2021’
The original director of the hero shooter is now working on a western game called The Legend of California
Authorities investigate letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to congressional, election offices
Federal authorities are investigating letters that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the mailings as “potentially hazardous.”
Katie Zacharia did not pass the bar exam, senior administration official says
A Trump administration official argued that the White House press secretary could technically be considered a “lawyer.” That argument has been disputed by legal experts.
Scouting America honors Delaware business leader as organization builds new momentum
WILMINGTON, Del. — When Delaware business and community leaders gather Thursday evening, Oct. 15, to recognize Rodger Levenson as Scouting America's 2026
NEWS: Biomedical Studies, NSF-Funded Science, Student-Led Projects, and More on NASA’s SpaceX CRS-35
ISS National Lab-sponsored research aims to advance regenerative medicine, improve understanding of natural hazards, and inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers
Andrew Garfield, Elizabeth Holmes are set to crash the Oscar race
NEW YORK – After nearly three whirlwind weeks, the New York Film Festival drew to a close Oct. 12 – and with it, we got newfound clarity about this year’s
Claim that Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia is a lawyer comes under scrutiny
The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration.
He Built California Pizza Kitchen. Then He Lost Control of His Company
CPK founders Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax learned that sustainable growth depends on prioritizing people and protecting company culture.
The problem with Katie Zacharia calling herself a lawyer
Two watchdog groups filed complaints with the California bar, asking it to investigate whether she violated the law by calling herself a lawyer.
St. Johns County connects business owners, resources
St. Johns County recently brought aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners together with local organizations that provide resources, guidance and support to help businesses start, operate and …
WHO urges vigilance after Kenya confirms second Ebola case
The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to support Kenya’s efforts to contain Ebola after a second person tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus, the UN agency’s representative in the country said on Thursday.
Trump says Fort Hood shooter execution won't be livestreamed after bipartisan backlash
The announcement earlier this month from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Hasan's execution would be public prompted significant blowback from both Republicans and Democrats, with many pointing out that the images could be used to fuel radicalization.
German savings banks chief says growth could curb political polarisation
By Maria Martinez BANGKOK, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Germany's nascent economic recovery could curb the polarization seen in recent state elections, the president of the country's savings banks association
Washington Wizards season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27
Tax Relief on Losses Stimulates Business Risk-Taking, OECD Says
Countries that provide limited tax relief to loss-making companies risk stifling entrepreneurial risk-taking and the creation of new businesses, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said.
Tax Relief on Losses Stimulates Business Risk-Taking, OECD Says
Countries that provide limited tax relief to loss-making companies risk stifling entrepreneurial risk-taking and the creation of new businesses, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said.
US lawmakers unveil bill to hold Wall Street’s ‘Epstein-connected’ bosses to account
Move comes as Senator Elizabeth Warren condemns Barclays response to questions over ex-boss’s ties to sex offender
Precision weather radar visualization requires better science, not just new tech
Learn how multi-source atmospheric science, GRAF modeling, and precision weather radar visualization create a more accurate representation of surface weather.
Reno commission OKs plan for $350-million entertainment district
The Reno Planning Commission voted in favor of a master plan, zoning change and conditional use permit for $350 million project, The Boulevard.
Supply Chain Modernization Strengthens Business Resilience
STAMFORD, Conn., October 15, 2026--Companies worldwide are revamping supply chain strategies to sustain business continuity and maintain compliance amid persistent disruption, ISG says.
As prior auth becomes an AI ‘arms race,’ Otter Health raises $8M for a different approach
Prior authorization has long been a source of friction between payers and providers, and now, with algorithmic tools for claims reviews and LLMs for appeals, it's evolved into an AI "arms race" as | The company built an AI-powered real-time clinical quality platform to better manage healthcare utilization by influencing care decisions rather than requiring clinicians to get permission for them.
RFP alert: New York State announces over $37 million for cleantech business accelerators
The newly established Commercialization Cohort Initiative seeks to launch four business accelerators to train, mentor and fund clean energy startups and entrepreneurs.
AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) Stock Rating Raised to "Strong-Buy" at Zacks Research
Zacks Research upgraded AMC Entertainment from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday.
Science Wizard David Hagerman to perform extreme science at Knollwood School
Renowned science wizard David Hagerman brings magic to learning at Knollwood School
Here Is Why Bargain Hunters Would Love Fast-paced Mover AMC Entertainment (AMC)
If you are looking for stocks that have gained strong momentum recently but are still trading at reasonable prices, AMC Entertainment (AMC) could be a great choice. It is one of the several stocks that passed through our 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen.
Vermont seasonal businesses try to make ends meet in a short window
From apple picking to finding the perfect pumpkin, business owners rely on customers to make their year-round work worthwhile.
Democratic group substantially increases fundraising to seize state legislatures
The States Project, an organization focused on electing Democrats to state legislatures, has raised more than $100 million this cycle.
As Florida Confronts Hundreds of Local Dengue Cases, Tampa Health Organizations Respond
Florida health officials have reported almost 300 locally acquired dengue cases as of Oct. 3 in what appears to be the largest outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in the continental United State…
Justin Champagnie Looks For Consistent Role on Washington Wizards
After proving to be a productive piece in 2025-26, Justin Champagnie is looking to find a consistent role on an upgraded Wizards roster in 2026-27
WHO urges faster action to end lead exposure which kills 3.5 million annually
Countries must accelerate efforts to prevent lead exposure, which is estimated to cause more than 3.5 million deaths globally each year and affects hundreds of millions of children, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
Leading life science organizations collaborate for second London Bio-Innovation Week
One Nucleus, The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), and ELRIG today announced that they will be collaborating during the second London Bio-Innovation Week, to facilitate multi-event and community networking and partnering opportunities for life science companies, academic researchers, bio-entrepreneurs, investors and advisers.
CPMI and IOSCO final report on FMIs’ management of general business risks and losses
On 14 October 2026, the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)
The Politics of Retrieval: Accessing the Backstage of Judicial AI
--Estefânia Maria de Queiroz Barboza, Constitutional Law Professor, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR); Gustavo Buss, PhD Candidate, Federal University of Pa
Beech Mountain’s Autumn at Oz draws faithful pilgrims
Autumn at Oz, the world’s largest Wizard of Oz festival, takes place on Beech Mountain at the Land of Oz theme park, attracting tens of thousands of visitors over nine days each September with immersive Oz-themed experiences along the Yellow Brick Road.
Spencer Cox Talks Polarization, Outrage Politics, and the Future of Bipartisanship at IOP
Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah.) spoke to Institute of Politics (IOP) Founding Director David Axelrod about his efforts to promote collaboration and debate across party lines at International House on Monday. This past year, Cox published Off Ramp: How To Be A Peacemaker In An Age Of Contempt, a book outlining his blueprint for depolarization in...
Scientists alarmed as super El Niño collides with 'strange uptick' in Galapagos iguana trafficking
The only lizard in the world that can live and forage at sea may now be in a fight for survival. International scientists warn black-market trafficking of Galapagos marine iguanas is peaking just as the ...
Bucs' Veteran Credits Bowles for Keeping Things Together
Amid a rocky start and rampant outside noise, Alex Anzalone reveals how Todd Bowles reshaped the locker room mindset to spark a season-saving upset over the Cowboys.
Central Oregon's first children's museum finally secures a home, and a new name
After reaching more than 24,000 people through its Mobile Museum, the Children's Museum of Central Oregon is taking the next step. Rebranding as Ruckus, a Children's Science Museum, the organization has secured a permanent home in Bend and is working to create Central Oregon's first dedicated children's science museum.
Katie Zacharia Is Trump’s New Press Secretary. But Is She a Lawyer?
Katie Zacharia told The New York Times that the confusion over her legal credentials was the result of one big misunderstanding.
Your Business Probably Has More Data Than Insight by Nathan Tayloe
Most businesses know more about themselves than they ever have. Leaders have access to financial reports, sales pipelines, customer data, employee metrics, website analytics, and dashboards for almost every part of the organization. CRMs track every stage of the sales process. Marketing platforms report results in real time. AI can analyze and summarize enormous amounts of information in seconds. Yet I've sat in plenty of meetings where all of that information is available, and some of the most important questions are still surprisingly difficult to answer. What's actually working? Why are customers choosing us? Where are we losing opportunities? What should we do differently? Having the data and understanding what it means are two very different things. More Information Doesn't Always Create More Clarity Over the past decade, businesses have invested heavily in visibility, and that's a good thing. We can understand performance with a level of detail that would have been unimaginable not long ago. But there's an unintended consequence. The easier something becomes to measure, the easier it is to assume it must be important. Website traffic goes up, so that looks positive. Leads increase, so marketing appears to be working. Sales activity climbs, so the pipeline looks healthy. Maybe. The numbers tell us what happened. Understanding why it happened, whether it matters, and what we should do next still requires judgment. Not Everything That Matters Fits on a Dashboard Consider a customer who ultimately contacts your company through Google. The data may attribute that lead to search. What it may not show is that the customer heard about you from a colleague six months earlier, saw your company mentioned in an industry publication, followed one of your employees on LinkedIn, and read several reviews before finally searching for your company. Google may have produced the click. It didn't necessarily create the decision. This happens throughout a business. Some of the things that matter most are difficult to reduce to a single metric: Why your best customers stay Why talented employees choose your company Why a prospect trusts one provider over another Why one service is gaining momentum while another isn't Why the market perceives your business the way it does Data can help answer those questions, but it needs context. Better Decisions Start With Better Questions One of the easiest traps for leaders is starting with the information in front of them rather than the decision they're trying to make. Instead of opening a dashboard and asking, "What does the data show?" it can be more useful to start with a different set of questions: What are we trying to understand? What decision are we trying to make? What would we need to know to make that decision confidently? That changes the role of data. Instead of looking at every number available and searching for meaning, you're using information to understand something specific about the business. Information Still Requires Judgment More sophisticated analytics and AI will continue to give leaders access to better information, faster. That's valuable, but I don't think it reduces the importance of experience and judgment. If anything, it increases it. Someone still has to decide which numbers deserve attention, which patterns matter, what context might be missing, and when the data isn't telling the whole story. The goal isn't to know more about your business simply because you can. It's to understand your business well enough to make better decisions. Good data can tell you what happened. Good leadership has to decide what it means. — Learn more about how we help organizations turn business, customer, and marketing insights into smarter strategies at tayloegray.com, or reach out directly at nathan@tayloegray.com.
Talarico criticizes Israel’s actions in Gaza, backs two-state solution
James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Texas’ Senate seat, addressed the nuances of a voter’s question about rising antisemitism and his stance on Israel. “I have deep love and respect for the Jewish people, for the Jewish scriptures,” noting that he learned about them from a local rabbi and not from a Christian perspective.
Ex-Trump aide: Katie Zacharia ‘not qualified for the job’
Former Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci tells CNN’s Elex Michaelson he doesn’t think White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is ready for the job.
Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she’s a lawyer
China’s notoriously difficult National Unified Legal Professional Qualification Examination can only be taken by Chinese citizens
Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she’s a lawyer
China’s notoriously difficult National Unified Legal Professional Qualification Examination can only be taken by Chinese citizens
Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she’s a lawyer
China’s notoriously difficult National Unified Legal Professional Qualification Examination can only be taken by Chinese citizens
Justices grant Trump administration’s request to pause lower court ruling in political ad rate dispute
The Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for political parties and joint fundraising committees to continue to receive favorable advertising rates in the run-up to the 2026 election. In a five-…
Idaho lawmakers tee up bill to reform prior authorization, and more health insurance issues
A panel of Idaho lawmakers that studied issues in the health insurance market formalized plans to draft legislation on a range of issues.
Big Top Xtreme Opens in Pine Bluff Bringing Family Entertainment and New Attractions After Six Years of Development
Big Top Xtreme officially celebrated its grand opening in Pine Bluff on Wednesday, October 14th, marking the completion of a six-year effort to transform a former property into a family entertainment destination featuring go-karts, miniature golf, paintball, arcade games and Big Banjo Pizza. City officials, […]
Scientists identify avian cholera as major cause of penguin deaths in Antarctica
Thousands of Adélie penguins found dead in Antarctica in 2024 were primarily victims of avian cholera, not high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5N1) as researchers initially suspected, according to a ...
Joni Mitchell celebrates citizenship after 62 years living in the U.S.
'Big Yellow Taxi,' 'Woodstock' and 'Both Sides, Now' singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is from Canada but has long resided in the U.S. She shared video of her naturalization ceremony on social media.
‘Misty Green’ review: Rosalind Eleazar is a revelation in uneven drama
Chris Rock’s drama about a once-successful Hollywood actress struggling to navigate her second act is tonally all over the place, but its star is fantastic.
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions
Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”
LMH Health receives Level IV Trauma Center designation
LMH Health has been designated a Level IV Trauma Center by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), recognizing the organization’s trauma program and strengthening access to emergency care for patients across the region. The achievement follows a comprehensive review process conducted every three years to ensure hospitals meet standards established by the American […]
Netflix is laying off 6% of its workforce, in biggest round of job cuts at streaming giant in years
Netflix plans to lay off about 6% of its workforce as part of wider organizational changes. Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos announced the cuts in a memo to employees
Netflix is laying off 6% of its workforce, in biggest round of job cuts at streaming giant in years
Netflix plans to lay off about 6% of its workforce as part of wider organizational changes. Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos announced the cuts in a memo to employees
Get to know the candidates for Okanogan County sheriff
In the Nov. 3 general election, two candidates are running for Okanogan County Sheriff. Current Sheriff Jodie Barcus is running to be reelected and Gisberth Gonzalez is running against her.
Federal disaster loans available for northern Wisconsin businesses impacted by drought
Small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in northern Wisconsin may qualify for federal disaster loans to help cover financial losses caused by ongoing drought conditions .
Elizabeth Keckly Center, WHUP FM present Hillsborough Harvest Festival
WHUP 104.7 FM and the Elizabeth Keckly Center at the Burwell School invite the community to celebrate the season at the Hillsborough Harvest Festival on Saturday, November 7, from 12–4
Entertainment reporter Jimmy Carter, Montgomery native, dead at 73
Jimmy Carter, a Montgomery native who became one of the most recognizable entertainment reporters in country music, has died. He was 73.
Health workers tackle taboos over drinking with new AI tool
A new AI-powered hub for health professionals aims to help identify alcohol-related risks and launch discussions with patients, including the link between drinking and cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Donna Lauver
Donna Lauver recently joined The Health Collaborative’s Workforce Team as Senior Manager of Workforce & Education Partnerships! We are thrilled to have her at the organization and caught up to […]
The 8-Bit Show: Connecting art, science & activism with PangeaSeed
On the latest episode of The 8-Bit Show, host Hekla Petursson sits down with the founder of PangeaSeed to discuss how the organization connects people with the ocean and inspires them to protect it.
100+ Manufacturing, Business Groups Urge Congress to Pass Bipartisan Permitting Deal
Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Manufacturers, joined by members of its Council of Manufacturing Associations, Conference of State Manufacturers Associations and other leading manufacturing and business organizations, sent a coalition letter urging Congress to swiftly pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act. Representing businesses across the country and industries throughout the manufacturing …
Duke Health and CaroMont Health Partner to Develop Two New Hospitals in Mecklenburg County
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Health and CaroMont Health today announced they are forming a new partnership to expand healthcare access and capacity in Mecklenburg County, beginning with plans for two new hospitals. With the region’s continued growth, the organizations are planning now to help ensure healthcare infrastructure and services can keep pace with the needs of patients and families.
Downtown Gloversville businesses to be highlighted on Small Business Saturday
Organizations are asking Gloversville businesses to participate in an upcoming campaign to highlight local merchants.
Make-A-Wish Iowa launches Wish Star Honor Wall
Make-A-Wish Iowa has unveiled its new Wish Star Honor Wall, an initiative recognizing individuals and organizations that support children with critical illnesses. The wall features a mural created by Urbandale High School senior Noah Small depicting a mountain rising from an Iowa cornfield, symbolizing the challenges families face when a child is diagnosed with a…
The real problem with Katie Zacharia not actually being a ‘lawyer’
The press secretary is supposed to spin the news, not be the news.
Operation Airdrop Mobilizes Bizav Volunteers for Hurricane Isaias Relief
Volunteer pilots, ground crews and donors are supporting Operation Airdrop’s response in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias.
Small Business Advocacy Group Endorses Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate
(KNSI) - The National Federation of Independent Business, a small business advocacy organization, has endorsed...
Katie Zacharia's debut shows the pitfalls and possibilities of White House press secretary's role
This would not be an easy job under any circumstances.
I On Politics
CB3 MONTHLY MEETING: Community Board 3 will hold its Monthly Board Meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 7:00pm at Renaissance Charter School Auditorium, 35-59 81st Street, Jackson Heights. Scheduled to speak is Detective Bayron Gonzalez from the 115th Precinct. 114 PCT COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING: The monthly meeting of the 114th Precinct Community Council
Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Inks Deal With Fox Entertainment For Vertical Content, Microdramas
Fox Entertainment and Hartbeat announced a multi-faceted partnership that leverages new, original vertical series as a development pipeline for film and television content. The partnership pairs Codeblack’s record of building film and television businesses for underserved audiences with Fox Entertainment’s studio operations, worldwide sales organization and growing vertical video ecosystem. It also extends vertical storytelling … Continue reading "Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Inks Deal With Fox Entertainment For Vertical Content, Microdramas"
Should you turn to AI for mental health advice?
The following expert commentary can be used by journalists and media organizations in their own publications and news coverage. Please attribute all quotes to Lokesh Shahani, MD, PhD, psychiatrist and chief medical officer, UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences. The on-demand availability of artificial intelligence chatbots means that most individuals have quick, easy access to a wealth of information. The ease and accessibility of these tools may make it tempting