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American passengers from hantavirus-hit cruise ship arrive back in the U.S.
One passenger who is suffering mild symptoms will be taken to a second site to be treated separately, officials said.
2 returning Americans watched closely for hantavirus: US health officials
Two Americans were in biocontainment units “out of an abundance of caution,” Health and Human Services posted on social media.
IndyCar Fans React To Danica Patrick's 'Most Disliked' Title
Danica Patrick was named the "most disliked" driver in IndyCar history. A new poll, conducted by IndyCar's official Reddit page, announced that Patrick, who retired from full-time racing in 2018, was named the most detested driver in the history of the sport. She didn't have much competition. ...
Santa Clara health officials monitoring resident who was onboard hantavirus-stricken cruise
The health department said no further information regarding the person’s exposure will be released due to medical privacy laws, but added there is no known risk to the public at this time.
“Public deserves to know”: Harvard Professor says official messaging contradicts hantavirus science
Today, for the first time, passengers started evacuating the cruise ship at the center of the deadly hantavirus outbreak, which has killed at least three people onboard. Joseph Allen, Professor of Exposure Assessment Science at Harvard University, joins “The Weekend: Primetime” to discuss what he sees as contradictory messaging over how people contract hantavirus, and shares what he learned after speaking with a doctor on board the ship.
Jalen Williams' Thunder-Lakers Game 4 status officially revealed
Jalen Williams' Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers Game 4 status officially revealed.
Specter of an all-GOP governor race spurs push to remake open primary
A political consultant filed an application with state officials seeking to alter California’s voting system by reverting to a traditional primary with the top vote-getters from each party.
Owner revives business in downtown IM with Revival
IRON MOUNTAIN — Holly DeGroot has returned as a local business owner, officially turning her pop-up women’s clothing boutique, Revival, into a permanent location May 1. DeGroot previously operated Bijou Lovely from 2017 to the beginning of 2024 in the same building at 310 S. Stephenson Ave. in downtown Iron Mountain. At the time she […]
Sen. Joni Ernst presents Small Business Award to Boone River Financial Friday
In celebration of National Small Business Week, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, presented an official document on Friday to Webster City’s Boone River Financial. Owned by Andy Hejlik and his wife Tami, the document recognized their business as Hamilton County’s Small Business of the Week. “This is an official document of the United States Senate,” […]
Official race results: 2026 NASCAR Cup at Watkins Glen
Shane van Gisbergen earned his seventh career win, beating McDowell and Gibbs at the Glen
Health officials issue warning after 2nd case of measles on Long Island -- with possible restaurant exposure
City of Auburn Hills issues warning to businesses during Water Main Break
According to city officials, “Instances of water use for non-essential purposes during the State of Emergency will be investigated, and violators may be prosecuted.”
Why hantavirus isn’t the next pandemic, according to health officials
The sights of PPE-clad passengers leaving the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship Sunday may prompt flashbacks to the COVID pandemic. Health officials say that isn’t exactly the case.
Serie A official line-ups: Milan vs. Atalanta
Milan in crisis miss Christian Pulisic, so Santiago Gimenez partners Rafael Leao upfront against Atalanta’s Giacomo Raspadori and Charles De Ketelaere.It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 UK time (20.4...
Bay Area health officials confirm resident exposed to hantavirus on MV Hondius cruise ship
Iran responds to US peace proposal, Iranian media reports. What we know
The Trump administration's framework proposed a pause in fighting while officials hammer out a permanent peace plan.
Zelda: Twilight Princess unofficially ported to PC with lots of extra features & quality of life
The long-awaited Dusk, which is an unofficial enhanced port of the acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, has just been released on PC with iOS and Android coming too.
Is e.l.f. (ELF) Turning Viral Brand Buzz Into a Durable Entertainment-Driven Growth Story?
In recent days, e.l.f. Cosmetics joined the International Dance League as a founding partner and official livestream presenting partner, while continuing to see strong demand for its viral Halo Glow range, including celebrity-endorsed products that are selling quickly online. Taken together, these moves deepen e.l.f.’s presence where its core audience spends time, on social platforms and emerging entertainment channels, potentially reinforcing its brand strength and product visibility. Next,...
Chicago Teachers Union wants $8.5 million dues hike to fund politics
“Has your brand become toxic?” This was a pointed question from WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley, posed to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in a recent interview. Her immediate response: “I don’t understand the question.” When pressed, Gates added, “The Chicago Teachers Union is not a political party, it is a labor union.” But internal union documents show CTU leadership is trying to skim $8.5 million more from teacher paychecks explicitly for politics, while trying to silence union members critical of Gates’ leadership. Under the proposed dues hike, Chicago teachers would see up to $800 more per year flow from their paychecks to union coffers. The union already takes in more than $40 million a year, mostly from dues. And it spends less than 18 cents of every dollar on teacher representation. The No. 1 reason for the proposed dues hike? Politics. “We must win a majority of the first 21 person fully elected school board in November,” reads the first point in CTU’s member FAQ document.1 This directly contradicts CTU’s promise to members about how leadership uses dues money. The official CTU handbook tells members that the union does not use dues money for politics, so if they are interested in funding political activity, they should consider voluntary donations to CTU’s political action committee. “Our dues are not used for political purposes,” according to the handbook. “So our PAC relies on extra contributions from our members to support progressive candidates and to impact elected officials at the city, county and state levels.” This kind of double-speak is one reason members are concerned about another constitutional change slipped into the dues hike vote, which will take place on May 20-21: an attempt to stop members from holding the union accountable. A proposed amendment to the union constitution tries to place limits on when members may bring a lawsuit against the union for violating members’ rights.2 This provision is clearly a response to members’ lawsuit against union leadership regarding Gates’ years-long refusal to publish audited financial statements. The judge in that case has repeatedly denied the union’s attempts to dismiss it. Teachers opposed to these changes have been circulating this flier, urging members to vote no. What will CTU members get in return for millions of dollars in additional dues? If the 2024 school board elections are any indication—not much. CTU leadership’s record on school board races may not inspire confidence among members. A Chicago Policy Center analysis of a dozen affiliated PACs found CTU spent nearly $2.9 million on school board races in 2024. Of that spending, more than $2.1 million (75%) went to losing candidates. And while CTU-backed candidates lost six of the nine competitive seats overall, they fared worse in their biggest-spending races, losing five of six contests in which the union and its affiliates put up more than $250,000 for their candidate. The Chicago school board elections take place Nov. 3.3 Is another $8.5 million enough to clean up a toxic reputation? Not likely. Update on federal tax credit scholarship: Last week, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program. If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker follows suit, Illinois could unlock $1 billion in donor money statewide for both public- and private-school students. If Illinois does not opt in, that money will flow to other states. The Last Ward reported in February on how Illinois Democrats could unlock at least $100 million in new resources for Chicago public-school students by opting in. Update on the investigation into how Chicagoans learned about a meeting to hike their property taxes: The Last Ward reported in January on an absurd, taxpayer-funded investigation into how local media learned of a planned Chicago school board meeting to hike the district’s property tax levy. That investigation is now complete. Lawyers interviewed two dozen witnesses, and found nothing. Update on Illinois’ muni debt crisis: My colleague Joe Tabor last week published a must-read piece in Crain’s Chicago Business about how Illinois recently rejected south suburban Harvey’s request to be designated a “distressed city.” The saga shows why the state must implement a better structure to assist insolvent local governments, including allowing for the option to pursue debt relief via Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The Last Ward reported in October on how Harvey is tipping the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis. Mincing Rascals: I joined the Mincing Rascals podcast to discuss the SAFE-T Act, the millionaires tax, and more. My “green light” recommendation: Force Majeure (2014). 1 Notably, the No. 2 reason cited is “resources to fund a state-wide millionaires tax campaign in order to fully fund the state’s school funding formula.” The constitutional amendment necessary to implement a progressive income tax in Illinois recently died in the Illinois House, meaning this question would not appear on the ballot until 2028 at the earliest. 2 There is seemingly no single-subject rule for CTU constitutional amendments. So members only get one vote on the full package. One cannot vote “yes” on the dues hike and “no” on the restriction of members’ rights, for example. 3 Illinois law grants far too much power over local government to unelected officials like Gates. State lawmakers should fix that.
How much you really have to pay to follow RFK Jr.’s new dietary guidelines
Trump administration officials have repeatedly touted the affordability of its new dietary guidelines. But following them on a budget requires a lot of time and labor.
Sales Are Up. Celebrities Are In. Is Gap Officially Back?
Richard Dickson has drawn inspiration from the clothing retailer’s early days as he tries to regain its cultural cachet.
Hantavirus risk to Jersey 'very low'
Officials say they are monitoring the situation with UK colleagues
How Investors May Respond To Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) Profit Squeeze And Kalshi Branding Deal
Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. has reported its fiscal third-quarter 2026 results, with revenue rising to US$246.26 million while net income eased to US$5.11 million, and separately entered a multi-year partnership making Kalshi an Official Prediction Market Partner with naming rights to the sixth-floor Kalshi Concourse at Madison Square Garden. Despite higher expenses weighing on quarterly profit, management’s confidence in robust full-year growth and the Kalshi collaboration’s...
Santa Clara Co. resident was aboard cruise ship affected by Andes hantavirus outbreak: officials
A Santa Clara County resident was one of two Californians aboard the cruise ship with the Andes hantavirus outbreak. The county is monitoring and evaluating the person in coordination with the California Department of Public Health and the CDC.
City Satisfied with Old Town Goleta Restriping Project Data, But Some Businesses Are Not
It has been roughly a year and a half since the controversial Old Town Goleta restriping project took effect. While city officials say post-project data
Recent studies warn about businesses packing to leave Colorado
A growing body of research is warning about businesses packing to leave Colorado at a moment when major cities on both coasts are making headlines over departures of corporations and high earners. The studies’ conclusion sits at a crosscurrents with state data, perennially touted by officials, that new business filings are up over last year. […]
Broncos' 2026 rookie class officially has jersey numbers
Jersey numbers have been revealed for each of the Denver Broncos' 2026 draft picks.
Citing 'Florida officials,' Ashley Moody says it's time to 'move on' from Alligator Alcatraz
'It's served its purpose.'
Health professionals say Hantavirus outbreak won’t lead to another pandemic
As health officials around the world monitor an outbreak of Hantavirus, related to a cruise ship that traveled across the Atlantic, professionals from the World Health Organization on down say it w…
This Open World Sci-Fi Game is Officially Free on Steam Until May 11
Fans of sci-fi games and open world adventures won't want to miss this limited-time only free Steam game.
Explosive co-op shooter Aliens: Fireteam Elite gets a sequel, and it's coming soon
It's official: Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 will release later this year.
Here’s how health officials are tracing people who came in contact with hantavirus victims
Hantaviruses do not spread easily between people.
Piedmont University receives federal funds for Forensic Science Program
Piedmont University has been awarded $608,000 in federal funding, through the efforts of Sen. Jon Ossoff, to strengthen its forensic science program and expand workforce development opportunities throughout Georgia. University officials said the funding will help address growing workforce shortages in forensic science and provide enhanced training opportunities for students,
Virginia public health expert urges calm response to hantavirus
As health officials in multiple countries are urgently working to track and contain a hantavirus outbreak, a Va. health expert says people should not be overly worried.
Iran Businesses Buckle Under Strain of Record Internet Shutdown
Iran’s record internet blackout is taking a heavy toll on private businesses, with owners and industry officials warning that it could lead to mass layoffs and closures.
Cardinals first-rounder Jeremiyah Love officially signs rookie deal, gets largest RB guarantee in NFL history
2026 Detroit Lions Schedule Release Date Officially Announced
The NFL officially announced the 2026 schedule release date, while Lions fans await Germany game details and primetime matchups.
Residents urge Louisiana lawmakers to keep two majority-Black U.S. House districts
A panel of Louisiana lawmakers all day May 8 heard passionate testimony from the public and elected officials urging them not to remove either of the state’s two majority-Black congressional
Player Availability Report: #PORvSKC
Player Availability Report is SportingKC.com’s look at the latest status updates around the team ahead of upcoming matches and is presented by Saint Luke’s. All details listed are from the league’s official Player Status Report that is submitted the day prior to the match. Sporting Kansas City hits the road
Bronx congressman calls for investigation into ICE’s actions
Rep. Torres wants U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials' actions investigated.
Alabama Asks Supreme Court to Allow it to Use New Voting Map
State officials urged the justices to allow them to jettison Alabama’s congressional district map, citing the Supreme Court’s recent decision that dealt a blow to the Voting Rights Act.
'We're almost there': Phase one of infrastructure project on Southwest Boulevard wrapping up
KC officials say the Westside has needed some TLC for a long time, and phase one of a project around Southwest Boulevard wrapped up this week. One business owner told us it has been both "challenging" and "exciting."
Iran’s injured supreme leader out of public view but still shaping strategy, US intel assesses
US intelligence assesses that Iran’s new supreme leader is playing a critical role in shaping war strategy alongside senior Iranian officials, according to multiple sources familiar with the intelligence. The reports found that precise authority within a now-fractured regime remains unclear, but that Mojtaba Khamenei is likely helping direct how Iran is managing negotiations with the US to end the war.
Arisa Health to exit Arkansas CMHC contract, citing $4.4M funding cut
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – After more than 55 years serving Arkansas as the designated Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) in 41 counties, officials with Arisa Health announced Friday that the company h…
Colorado governor signs $47 billion budget in which ‘nobody won’
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday officially signed a $46.87 billion spending plan for the Colorado state government in the next fiscal year. His signature is the culmination of months of work by legislators, who resorted to cuts, transfers and other mechanisms to balance the 2026-27 budget amid a deficit of more than $1 billion. That […]
Photo Galleries
The official photo galleries for the Florida State
Woman shares lifelong Lyme disease struggle as health officials urge tick awareness in Mid-Ohio Valley
Woman shares lifelong Lyme disease struggle as health officials urge tick awareness in Mid-Ohio Valley
Cups distributed at local restaurant contained led, health officials warn
The public health warning came after Public Health inspectors tested the cups for lead following a customer complaint.
Health officials warn of potential measles exposure at Roslyn Heights restaurant
A laboratory verified a measles case in a New York City resident, who potentially exposed the highly contagious disease to patrons who visited the 388 Italian Restaurant in Roslyn Heights on May 3.
A deadly crisis of violent manhood spills into our politics, again
Two recent incidents of gender-based violence involving elected officials highlight the need for a shift in the way masculinity is defined, from one of control and domination to one of care and con…
NFL Referees Association ratifies new CBA with NFL; league won't need replacement officials during 2026 season
Hantavirus misinformation runs rampant as the US is unequipped to respond to infectious disease health scare
But the US’s withdrawal from the WHO – and cuts to the country’s health system – stymie officials’ response
Experts worry 'we are not prepared' for pandemic under Trump, RFK Jr.
The hantavirus outbreak is not the start of a pandemic, officials say. But experts worry about the nation's preparedness for public health threats.
New Jersey health officials monitoring 2 residents following potential hantavirus exposure
Health officials say the risk to the general public in New Jersey remains very low.
Buffalo Bills officially announce signing of Wisconsin Badgers' UDFA
The Buffalo Bills announced former Wisconsin Badgers fullback Jackson Acker was one of their 12 signed undrafted free agents.
Exclusive: Kennedy's health officials explored US ban of some widely used antidepressants, sources say
U.S. health department officials last week explored whether they could ban certain drugs in a widely prescribed class of antidepressants as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepared to roll out a plan to reduce their use, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
Tori Rose Inks With Saddle Up Records & Johnstone Entertainment
Tori Rose has officially inked a deal with Saddle Up Records as their debut artist, and signed [...]
Official Feature Entertainment Group (OFEG) Announces Strategic Alliance with Nubian TV to Expand Digital Distribution
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Official Feature Entertainment Group (“OFEG”), a next-generation entertainment and media platform focused on premium digital access and scalable content experiences, today announced a strategic alliance with Nubian TV, a Boston-based OTT distribution platform operated by Leverett Media. The collaboration is designed to support OFEG’s Phase I rollout of live-stream and on-demand content distribution, expanding audience reach through integrat
Lawyers for press dinner gunman seek to disqualify Pirro and Blanche from case citing their presence at event
The legal team of the man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last month has asked the court to disqualify top Department of Justice officials from being involved in his case, arguing there is a conflict of interest because they were present during the incident.
Helldivers 2 devs respond to criticism with Q&A after recent Steam reviews tank to ‘Mostly Negative’
Helldivers 2 players have criticized Arrowhead Game Studios for some time. An official response from the devs promises many improvements.
Virginian from hantavirus cruise ship is home, under public health monitoring
Passengers who were aboard the cruise ship at the center of the deadly hantavirus outbreak are now back in the U.S., and one passenger is in Virginia. For privacy reasons, the Virginia Department of Health is not releasing many details about the passenger who was on that ship, including what part of the commonwealth that person is from. That person is…
🏀 Y! Sports AM: 76 teams
What's long been inevitable is now official: March Madness expansion is here.
New Mexico health officials reassure residents about hantavirus risk following cruise ship outbreak
New Mexico health officials seek to reassure residents about hantavirus following cruise ship outbreak that sickened people
Pages - First Lady Moore Honors Local Student Artist During Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
An official website of the State of Maryland.
Public health officials warn of rise in measles, as Va. hantavirus patient under monitor
As summer travel season is a factor in disease spread, state and federal government leaders offer guidance and resources.
Inside the Justice Department’s shakeup of the John Brennan investigation
Jason Reding Quiñones, the top federal prosecutor in Florida’s southern district, arrived in Washington, DC, last month for a meeting with top Justice Department officials as White House pressure continued to build over bringing criminal charges against one of President Donald Trump’s top political foes.
This Ohio business makes the referee stripes seen on courts across the country
Smitty Officials Apparel in Canton helps sports officials make calls with style.
Iran’s Economy Buckles Under Pressure as Millions Face Unemployment
Iranian officials argue the economic hardship is the result of what they describe as an unjust war imposed by the United States and Israel.
Nihar Gala Scholarship Program for American Entrepreneurs Launches to Support Emerging American Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders
Seaford, Delaware--(Newsfile Corp. - May 8, 2026) - The Nihar Gala Scholarship for American Entrepreneurs officially opens its application cycle, offering a strategic opportunity for undergraduate students and aspiring business professionals across the United States. This initiative focuses on identifying the next generation of innovators who demonstrate resilience and a clear vision for the future of the American economy. By providing financial support and a platform for creative thought, Nihar
Official-looking Xperia 1 VIII images show new design, colors; launch date, price increase tipped
After leaked Amazon listing, fresh marketing images have revealed the redesigned Sony Xperia 1 VIII in all colors. Set for a potential May 20th launch, the 2026 model faces controversy over a rumored price hike and the removal of the continuous optical zoom.
High temperatures prompt health warnings for Central California families
Experts are warning that dangerously high temperatures are headed to California over the weekend, prompting local health officials to urge families to take extra precautions.
After health scare, ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett finally introduced
After announcing the hiring of Randy Bennett nearly a month and a half ago, ASU officially introduced its new men’s basketball coach.
Norman’s billion-dollar entertainment district to break ground next week
The Rock Creek Entertainment District in Norman, featuring dining, retail and a state-of-the-art sports facility, will officially break ground next Tuesday.
NCAA Tournament officially expands to 76 teams
The Division I Board of Governors voted on Thursday to officially expand the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments to 76 teams, eight more than the current 68-team field.
Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs wraps 2026 thoroughbred season
The 2026 spring thoroughbred racing season has officially concluded at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs after 28 days of live racing and more than $20 million in wagers, a significant
UN health agency chief says hantavirus outbreak shows why US should rejoin
The World Health Organization and U.S. health officials are working together despite Donald Trump’s withdrawal.
Texas health officials monitoring two residents who were on board ship with hantavirus outbreak
DSHS will not release additional personal details about the passengers to protect their privacy.
‘That’s a problem’: Councilor grills health commissioner over childcare workforce grant funding
Executive Councilor John Stephen pointedly questioned officials from the Department of Health and Human Services during this week’s meeting about why a childcare workforce grant program was not funded.
Health coach, educator announces candidacy for mayor of Rochester
Jerrod Lucker, a certified health coach, musician, and educator, has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Rochester.
Marco Rubio’s campaign-style video sparks presidential run speculation
Comments with optimistic tone went viral on social media with some framing it as unofficial start of Rubio’s campaign
New OU basketball arena in Rock Creek Entertainment District to break ground
The new home for OU basketball will finally break ground soon. It was announced on Thursday that the Rainier Company, which was hired to build a new Rock Creek Entertainment district, will officially break ground on May 12. OU and the city announced in 2024 their intentions of building a $1.2 billion entertainment district in Rock Creek that would ...
Rabid beaver attacks boy fishing at New Jersey lake, prompting health officials to warn residents
An 8-year-old boy was attacked by a rabid beaver while fishing at Lake Henry in Mahwah, New Jersey. The frightening encounter was captured on video.
New GTA Online Update Confirmed By Rockstar With New Content And Big Changes
Rockstar Games have officially announced another new GTA Online update packed full of content. Even though GTA 6 is several months away from release, Rockstar are not slowing down with GTA Online.…
IOC urges sports to let Belarus athletes compete again without vetting as neutrals
Athletes from Belarus should once again compete with their full national identity and not be vetted for neutral status, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday. One barrier to Russia’s return is an ongoing World Anti-Doping Agency investigation into recent reports implicating Russian anti-doping agency official Veronika Loginova. The IOC said its executive board noted “with concern the recent information” being looked at by WADA, without naming Loginova.
Health officials monitoring Americans who departed hantavirus-stricken ship before quarantine
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
FBI director gifts Kentucky bourbon while on official business, The Atlantic reports
The Atlantic released a new report saying FBI Director Kash Patel often gifts engraved bottles of Kentucky bourbon Woodford Reserve.
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
As federal scientists faced turmoil, the Devils Hole pupfish reached a crisis point
The Devils hole pupfish lives in just one spot in Death Valley. Wildlife officials have managed this iconic fish for decades, and last spring, just as the Trump administration was laying off all kinds of scientists, the wild population of this fish plummeted to only 20 individuals. Officials then took an irrevocable step.
Google Chrome 148 Released with Fix for 127 Security Vulnerabilities
Google has officially promoted Chrome 148 to the stable channel for Windows, Mac, and Linux, rolling out version 148.0.7778.96 for Linux and 148.0.7778.96/97 for Windows and Mac, one of the most security-intensive releases in the browser's recent history, packing 127 security fixes in a single update.
Health officials monitoring potential hantavirus infections in at least 3 states
The CDC said the "administration is closely monitoring the situation with U.S. travelers" onboard the cruise ship that was hit with an outbreak.
Health officials see fewer pathogens in follow-up tests of Kona-low mud samples
Hawaii Department of Health officials today shared improved results from a follow-up round of environmental testing in areas affected by the Kona-low storms.
Syracuse officials address concerns over CRB's loss of investigative authority
It’s the first in a series of scheduled meet and greets.
Health Authorities Monitor Hantavirus Cruise Passengers in United States
People in at least three states are being monitored after being on the ship. None have shown symptoms, officials said.
Over half of Israeli adults are overweight or obese, Knesset Health Committee told
31.4% of 7th graders overweight; officials blame high cost of medications, inadequate health services in low-income areas, lack of accessible educational materials in Arab, Ethiopian sectors
Two Georgia residents monitored after cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, health officials say
Georgia health officials are monitoring two residents who returned from the MV Hondius cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak.
Star Fox Nintendo Switch 2 boxart, price revealed, official announcement
We have more on the just-announced Switch 2 remake of Star Fox, including the boxart, price, and official announcement from Nintendo. The game’s packaging image is attached below. As for the price, it looks like this one will be on the cheaper side for a Nintendo Switch 2 title. We should have official U.S. pricing very shortly, but in Japan,...
Rising gas prices force local sports official to seek additional work
Gas prices approaching $4.50 per gallon cause small business owners like sports official Soslan Temanson to pick-up additional work,