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Scientists, Regulators and Industry Convene at PCPC’s 2026 Science Symposium
This annual event offers two days of presentations from experts in their fields, coupled with insight from US regulatory bodies like the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Surf Internet Rallies Business Partners to Raise $100,000 for Five Star Life
Surf Internet® turned the strength of its business relationships into local impact this week, raising $100,000 for Five Star Life through its inaugural Surf Internet Charity Golf Classic. The Sept. …
Nyck Harbor will present a major test for Kentucky defense
Nyck Harbor has the potential to be a game wrecker. And it just so happens to be a weakness for Kentucky Football.
Gas service could be cut off, switched to electric under Mass. bill
The proposal represents the latest flashpoint in a debate over how much of a role natural gas should play here.
Liverpool's ahead-of-the-curve approach to youth recruitment
Liverpool's global talent department - led by Matt Newberry - is responsible for deciding which young talents from overseas should be targeted for a transfer move. Using their wealth of contacts across the world, including dedicated regional scouts, Liverpool are becoming increasingly aggressive in the space - and it helps that new sporting director Julian Ward is well known for his global network. After the Under-17s World Cup, Liverpool made a £1m move for Senegalese Mor Talla Ndiaye and a £2.6m move for fellow centre-back half Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who was representing Austria.
How Trump’s AI-Generated Memes Impact Political Authority and Masculinity
A new article by sociologists Tristan Bridges (University of California-Santa Barbara) and James W. Messerschmidt (University of Southern Maine) examines how AI–generated memes circulated on social media by President Donald Trump represent a significant transformation in the visual politics of masculinity
Gregg Allman documentary to be screened at Kamin Science Center
Fans of Gregg Allman and the Allman Brothers Band will have a chance to experience his story on the big screen when the documentary “Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul” comes to the Kamin Science Center starting today. Presented by longtime Pittsburgh concert promoter Rich Engler, the 96-minute documentary explores the life, music, and […]
UN Decade of Healthy Ageing midpoint report finds progress, calls for greater investment
New evidence in the Secretary-General's report to the 81st UN General Assembly, prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in coordination with the UN system, finds more countries acting on healthy ageing than ever before – but longer lives will not become healthy, dignified ones without faster, more sustained investment at country level.(NEW YORK, 28 September 2026) The Secretary-General transmitted to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly the mid-term progress report on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), marking the midpoint of the ten-year global effort to improve the lives of older people. The report was prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in coordination with the UN Inter-Agency Group on Ageing and with inputs from thirteen UN entities, the World Bank Group and civil society partners. It finds real progress in countries – and persistent gaps that must close before 2030.The number of people aged 60 and over passed 1 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, with the fastest growth in low- and middle-income countries. Longer lives are not automatically healthy ones: globally, the gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at age 60 widened between 2000 and 2023, and an estimated 71% of excess deaths from COVID-19 between 2020 and 2023 were among people aged 60 and over. “Longer lives are one of humanity’s great achievements, but we cannot congratulate ourselves while leaving millions without health and support,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director, Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO. “The first half of the Decade has shown what is possible. The second half must be about scaling and financing the progress to meet the needs and rights of older persons.”Real progress, unevenly sharedThe report finds that more countries than ever now have legislation against age-based discrimination – up from 44.5% in 2018 to 57.7% today – and over half now have national long-term care policies, up from 49% in 2023 to 56.7%, dedicated programmes to build age-friendly environments (54.6%), and comprehensive health and social assessments of older people (54.6%). New WHO guidance on services for long-term care and for Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) delivered in communities is enabling systemic change as an increasing number of countries incorporate these services within national universal health care benefit packages. A host of UN agencies and other partners support training, increasing health workforce competencies and use of digital health tools.“This report shows the Decade of Healthy Ageing is working,” said Dr Ritu Sadana, Head of the WHO Secretariat for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. “More countries are legislating against ageism, providing integrated care, strengthening long-term care systems, and creating age-friendly environments than ever before, in all regions and income levels. But progress is uneven and in one area, regressive: fewer countries report active multi-stakeholder forums on ageing, down from 53.1% in 2020 to 43.3% today. The second half of this Decade must turn commitments into results, in every country.”The financing gap: this Decade's binding constraintFinancing remains the binding constraint: more than a third of reporting countries (33.8%) have very little or no dedicated resources to develop long-term care, with similar shortfalls across the Decade’s other priority areas. Less than half of countries (45.4%) have legislation providing access to assistive devices (including hearing aids, spectacles or rollators), which are key to enabling older people to maintain productive, independent and dignified lives. Only 22.7% of countries can track older people’s health over time – the largest gap across the Decade’s core progress indicators. Nationally representative information is needed in each country, as policies and interventions cannot be designed as if all older adults of a given age share similar needs and capacities. The report calls for sustained investment through national budgets, country-owned plans, development cooperation and innovative financing mechanisms to fully close these gaps by 2030.“The Decade was designed as a whole-of-UN effort, and this report shows it in action,” said Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief of the Programme on Ageing Section at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and Permanent Co-Chair of the UN Inter-Agency Group on Ageing. “Thirteen UN entities, the World Bank group and civil society organizations contributed to this report, with WHO as the lead technical and implementing agency. That is the model of coordination the second half of the Decade will need to scale, with countries leading legislation, funding and implementation, engaging older people.”“Investing in healthy ageing is not simply a cost; it is one of the highest-return investments a government can make,” said Fiona Stewart, Global Lead for Ageing and Pensions at the World Bank Group. “Countries that invest early in integrated and long-term care see savings that outweigh the upfront cost many times over. The evidence in this report makes the economic case; what is now needed is predictable financing at country level to act on it, along with efforts to support older entrepreneurs and the silver economy.”Older people's own voicesThe report also draws on the direct experience of older people themselves, including a multilingual global survey conducted by the International Federation on Ageing that reached more than 1000 older people across 58 countries. WHO and UN partners called on Member States to use the second half of the Decade to accelerate implementation, strengthen data systems, and secure the financing needed so that the gains of longer lives reach older people everywhere. About the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030)Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 2020, the Decade is a global collaboration bringing together governments, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector, academia and older people themselves to improve the lives of older people, their families and communities. It is coordinated by the World Health Organization together with the UN Inter-Agency Group on Ageing. The Decade's mid-term progress report was transmitted to the General Assembly by the Secretary-General, prepared by WHO, and is available in 6 languages.Full Report available: A/81/366 Implementation of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030): Note by Secretary-General [ العربية | 中文 | English | Français | Pусский | Español
Selma business owner makes donation to Selma University
From the West Alabama Newsroom– A Selma business owner makes a sizable donation to Selma University — to support and promote business. Selma-U President Dr. Stanford Angion was all smiles — at a check presentation on the campus Wednesday morning. “It is really wonderful when you find hometown people who is giving back to help others who are coming along...
Player Availability Report: #SEAvSKC
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 is set for
Andrew Scott Could Make Oscars History With This ‘Incredibly Personal’ Role
“It’s set in the theater and about the representation of gay actors in the ’90s, and it’s about family,” the Irish actor said of “Elsinore.”
Carbondale dad deep into national Super Dad contest
CARBONDALE — A local dad is in the running for a national contest with a simple message: a super dad is a present dad.
Why Bernie Sanders is California Democrats’ campaign closer
Sen. Bernie Sanders represents a tiny state on the opposite coast, but continues to be one of the most powerful messengers in California politics.
Venezuelan physician receives PAHO award for advancing Indigenous and intercultural health
Washington, D.C., September 30, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today presented the 2026 PAHO Award for Health Services Management and Leadership to Dr. Noly Fernández, recognizing her contributions to advancing Indigenous health care and shaping services that respect Indigenous cultures, knowledge and rights.
Sorcerers of the Imperium coming to Invasive Weed Gallery
BELLOWS FALLS — Invasive Weed Gallery will present a special exhibition of Tom Swetland's Sorcerers of the Imperium – from Himmler to Hegseth, from Oct. 3 to Nov. 7. There
Awards Watch - SFFILM to Honor ‘Project Hail Mary’ with Sloan Science in Cinema Prize
Today, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, SFFILM announced it will present the prestigious Sloan Science in Cinema Prize to Academy Award-winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Mil…
Westminster artist Kathy Kemp exhibiting at Crowell Art Gallery
NEWFANE — The Crowell Art Gallery will present Held in Relation: Assemblages by Kathy Kemp, Oct. 2-31. An opening reception with the artist will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, from
‘You can speak the language, but can you speak the culture?’: Latine businesses offer welcoming spaces in Alamance County
From coffee, flowers and legal representation, Alamance County’s Hispanic and Latine-owned businesses provide safe spaces for Latines to feel understood and respected. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanic and Latine people make up almost 17% of the Alamance County population. However, Hispanics own just over 9% of small businesses in North Carolina, according to the U.S. Small Business Association.
FDA seeks scientists and consumer representatives for advisory panels
The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday launched a nationwide effort to recruit scientists, medical experts and consumer representatives to its advisory committees, which advise the agency on drugs, vaccines and other regulated products.
New Policies Pose Risks to Health of Lawfully Present Immigrant Families and Children, Including U.S. Citizen Children
Several policy changes taking effect this fall will negatively impact immigrants and mixed-status families. As my colleague Leo Cuello has pointed out, undocumented immigrants are not eligible to enroll in Medicaid coverage, therefore, this blog explains changes that apply to lawfully present immigrant families and children (many of whom are U.S. citizens). It’s also worth […]
Election 2026: Rookie political candidate releases 1st ad, jabs ‘politicians’
(The Center Square) – Jamie Ager’s quest to return North Carolina’s U.S. House of Representatives seat in the southwestern mountains to Democrats goes through Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom.
The Color Purple
Temple Civic Theatre will present "The Color Purple" starting Thursday. For information and tickets visit templecivictheatre.com.
Stellar Science with Mineral & Gem Museum
NORWAY — Deborah Johnson, Education Outreach Coordinator at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, will present a series of science programs for grades 1-6. They are scheduled for early release
Iran indicates it’s received an official US response to its latest offer on ending the war
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the U.S. response to President Masoud Pezeshkian at a Cabinet meeting, a government spokesperson told the state-run IRNA news agency.
Stallinga honored with chamber's Spirit of DeWald Award
This year's Spirit of DeWald Award from the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has been presented to DakotAbilities executive director Nathan Stallinga.
House Speaker Johnson stumping for CA GOP congressional candidates
House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to visit California on Wednesday to stump and fundraise for Republican candidates in a state that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives during President Trump's final two years in office.
When “DEI” research is cut, what happens to community health?
“I’m just going to run to the grocery store!” How many times have we said this without thinking about it? For most of us, it's usually an easy walk or a short drive to get the cheese we forgot. In reality, though, 13% of the U.S. population (about 39 million people) live in “food deserts,” which means living more than a mile from a grocery store in urban areas and more than 10 miles in rural areas. This was the case for people in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where a quick run to buy food wasn’t an option. In the 1930s, federal maps marked the Hill as "hazardous" for lending, a practice known as redlining that steered investment away from Black neighborhoods. Decades of disinvestment followed, and residents went about 30 years without a nearby grocery store. This made it hard to keep healthy eating habits and contributed to chronic disease. When a grocery store finally opened in the area in 2013, researchers saw the opportunity and launched the PHRESH study, which initially compared the health of participants from the Hill district to those in the Homewood district. Over time, the study expanded to other factors such as brain health and Alzheimer's risk. Residents like Roderick Blair overcame initial hesitation to share their health data, trusting it would benefit their neighborhood. Then, in August 2026, the NIH abruptly canceled the study’s grant, citing that it was “subjective” and fell outside their scientific scope—an effect of the administration’s interpretation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Research like PHRESH can help determine what changes in a neighborhood actually improve health, so cutting it has left that question unanswered. Other canceled studies have examined health issues like maternal health, preterm birth rates, or sickle cell disease. Courts have reversed some of these grant cancellations, but not all of them. If we really want America to be healthier, research into why some communities get sicker than others is absolutely critical. The law that created the federal minority health research institute passed with bipartisan support in 2000. But these days, as evidenced by grant cancellations, the political shift in attitudes toward DEI means we often lose access to the health information we need to help all communities thrive. DEI vs. health equity vs. equality and the overlap (or lack thereof) The letters “DEI” evoke very different reactions depending on who you are in the U.S. DEI programs can address gender, disability, age, and other factors, but the fiercest debate centers on race. For some people, hearing DEI brings to mind policies that may have cost them a job or a college seat because they are white. Others see DEI as a matter of justice: a way to expand representation and opportunity for groups that have been historically marginalized. Both perspectives are rooted in lived experience, and both center on the same question: whether hiring and admissions practices are fair. Hiring and admission practices, though related, are not the same as health equity. Health equity is “the attainment of the highest level of health for all people.” It’s the recognition that some groups of people consistently experience worse health outcomes than others. For instance, black mothers die from pregnancy-related complications at three times the rate of white mothers, and rural Americans are more likely to die from issues such as heart disease and cancer. Equity is also often conflated with “equality,” which leads to misunderstanding of how to actually best support communities. Equality ignores the fact that we aren’t all starting life with the same resources or circumstances, whereas equity is about helping people get what they specifically need based on their situation so they have the chance to achieve the same outcome as anyone else. For example, if every household in Pittsburgh got a $30 grocery gift card, that would be equal. But during the decades the Hill District went without a grocery store, that card wouldn’t have helped much. Equity means making sure everyone can actually access a store in the first place. DEI policies can overlap with health equity in many ways. For example, they may help expand access to quality education and stable, well-paying jobs, which in turn can provide health insurance, safer housing, and improved finances—all of which can reduce health disparities. But to make that happen, we first need data to identify disparities in communities and to develop solutions that effectively address them. What we lose when the research stops Community data is important to health equity because: You can’t fix what you don’t see: Data show which communities are most affected by health factors such as infection, heart disease, and cancer. If we don’t know what is happening and where, then we can’t develop interventions to help. Poor health costs everyone: Chronic disease is expensive—both to the individual person and to the overall economy. Understanding what groups of people are most at risk allows us to develop interventions that can save everyone money. Disparities exist for many communities: Health equity includes disparities that exist due to a whole host of factors, such as family background, race and ethnicity, rural vs. suburban residence, gender and sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, and lower income. This means many Americans can benefit from research into differences in health outcomes and how to improve them. Trust is easy to lose: Some participants in the PHRESH study were initially vocal about their concerns about participating. But that trust was earned because the researchers kept their promises and centered their work on the community. When projects are canceled mid-cycle, researchers have no choice but to leave behind communities they had promised to help. This hurts trust in the long run. It’s also a very inefficient use of resources, and it will take significant time and effort to redo the work when the government realizes this work is important again. How should we talk about health equity? This is hard because the words “equity” and “DEI” are currently very politically charged. So whether you’re a public health professional, teacher, or friend, how we talk about this topic matters. The right framing can help people who might otherwise be skeptical see why health equity research is important and deserves funding. Here are some suggestions to help your conversations: Choose your words strategically: Who are you trying to reach with your message? Are they likely to be resistant to terms like “diversity” and “equity”? If so, find alternative words to use to still get the message across. It is frustrating to be in that position, but the goal of improving health is too important not to try to make inroads. Sometimes simply reframing can help the message reach those who need to hear it. Focus on the problem: The terms “health equity” and “DEI” are abstract. Make it more specific. For example, discuss differences in maternal death or ways to improve health outcomes in rural communities. These still have equity at their core but will likely be better understood by those you’re talking with. Focus on systems: Disparities exist, but if they are communicated poorly, people can mistakenly think the issue is the individual’s fault. Disparities are largely driven by failures of the system—such as lack of access to health care and a long legacy of racism. When discussing the disparities, frame them around these systemic issues to ensure blame isn’t placed on the individuals impacted. Tell stories: Personalize these policies by using stories from those impacted that connect to the data you’re trying to convey. This helps make the policies and outcomes more concrete and meaningful. Bottom line Some communities end up sicker than others. That’s just the facts. We can argue about the best way to do that research, but canceling it simply because it may be linked to DEI doesn’t make anyone healthier. It just leaves communities like the Hill district behind. And in the end, it causes us all to move backward in our efforts to improve health in this country. Love, EM Big thanks to MacKenzie Isaac & Legairre Radden, who reviewed this piece and generously shared their expertise and lived experience to help improve it. Dr. Liz Marnik, PhD, is Executive Director of The Evidence Collective and a science communicator and immunologist working at the intersection of public trust, science, and public health. To discuss communication training on topics like health equity and storytelling, email Liz at liz@yle.health or learn more on our website. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. The YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Your Local Epidemiologist is a reader-supported publication. 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What will be classed as a successful season under Glasner?
Will: What do you think represents success for Glasner this season? If we trend as we are into Christmas, do you think the owner will look to replace him, or will Glasner be given the full season regardless, assuming we're not close to relegation? Nick: After last season, Forest desperately need stability, and it would be a huge surprise to see the manager leave, unless it is an irretrievable situation.
Steelers Rookie Gets Blunt Ben Roethlisberger Warning Before Browns Game
Steelers rookie Max Iheanachor impressed in his first NFL start, but Ben Roethlisberger says Cleveland will present a very different test. The post Steelers Rookie Gets Blunt Ben Roethlisberger Warning Before Browns Game appeared first on HEAVY.
Hayden Panettiere's ex Wladimir Klitschko petitions to protect their daughter's inheritance
LOS ANGELES — Actor Hayden Panettiere’s ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, has filed an urgent petition asking that he be allowed to act as their 11-year-old daughter’s temporary representative in California court
OpEd: Representative Thompson chooses you over politics
Politics has no shortage of disagreement. That isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Diddy's rep responds to report alleging cellphone, alcohol use in prison
Sean "Diddy" Combs' representative has responded to reporting that alleges the rapper uses contraband electronics and alcohol in prison and also pays fellow inmates to perform duties for him.
Microsoft rewires AI’s context layer for business
Presenting new capabilities for Fabric, Power BI, OneLake, and Azure SQL, the company took the stage in Barcelona to outline how its customers can connect data, business context, and AI to fuel the agentic enterprise.
HCA Healthcare presents 2026 Awards of Distinction
The Awards of Distinction are the highest honors HCA Healthcare bestows on colleagues, nurses, physicians and volunteers.
Bill Nye awarded Key to Las Vegas Strip as county declares ‘Bill Nye Day’
Clark County leaders recognized the iconic science educator at UNLV ahead of his Barrick Lecture Series presentation.
Hayden Panettiere's ex petitions to protect daughter's inheritance
Hayden Panettiere's ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko has filed an urgent petition to act as their 11-year-old daughter's temporary representative in California court.
State Senate Democratic Committee: Robyn Vining earns Recombobulation Area endorsement, highlighting her effective legislative record
MADISON, WI – State Representative Robyn Vining’s campaign for State Senate has earned the endorsement of The Recombobulaiton Area and Dan Shafer. During their conversation on The Recombobulaiton Area podcast, Robyn and Dan highlighted her path to political life, her...
A sensory-friendly space makes science learning more accessible
Orlando Science Center has a Sensory Room available for those individuals and families who need a calming environment when activities in the exhibit halls become overwhelming. Created in collaboration with KultureCity and presented by AdventHealth for Children, the Sensory Room on Level 4 is designed to make OSC more accessible for guests with sensory issues.
Representative Nathaniel Moran introduces H.R. 10582: Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act
We have received text from H.R. 10582: Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. This bill was received on 2026-09-24, and currently has 9 cosponsors.Here is a short summary of the bill: This bill would create a new federal tax credit for certain U.S.-based film and television productions. In general, eligible productions could claim a credit equal to a percentage of their qualified compensation costs, meaning wages and c
Independent documentary 'People vs. Politics' to open ninth annual WYO Film Festival
SHERIDAN — The WYO Film Festival will present a feature-length independent documentary "People vs. Politics" as its opening night film Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. at the WYO Theater.
Ecstatic Dance returns, Demetrius presents WEST live
Wave theory isn’t just for physics; it’s also a useful way to think about Frederick’s music ecosystem. The scene tends to move in cycles, with collective musical energy cresting and
Truckee Chamber celebrates business community at the ‘Top of the Town’
TRUCKEE, Calif. – The Truckee Chamber of Commerce presented six awards at Top of the Town, its 73rd Annual Awards Celebration on Friday, September 25 at Alder Creek Adventure Center in Tahoe Donner. “The Top of...
Understanding American Healthcare: A Deep Dive for Reporters
Christy Ford Chapin of the University of Maryland Baltimore County presented findings from her 2015 book to provide journalists with historical context for their healthcare reporting.
Duren and his representatives believe there is more …
Duren and his representatives believe there is more …
Film screening highlights women in Texas political leadership
A documentary film featuring retired female state representatives screens Wednesday at The Welder Center in downtown Victoria.
Swiss 'probably a league apart' from Scotland
Switzerland have "a ridiculously talented squad" who are "probably a league apart" from Scotland at present as the sides prepare to meet in the Nations League on Tuesday, according to football analyst John Walker. Following their 3-0 win in North Macedonia, Switzerland are the second test of Sebastien Pocognoli's reign as head coach after their 0-0 draw in Slovenia. "If Switzerland had faced the Scotland side in the first half, we wouldn't have had a second half we could have come back from," Walker said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
About 8,000 lawfully present Pennsylvania immigrants face Medicaid health insurance terminations on Oct. 1
New federal Medicaid eligibility cuts for immigrants, including refugees and asylees, were passed by Congress and President Trump.
Newly discovered iron minerals might hold primordial water from when Earth formed
Researchers may have found a missing link in how Earth's mantle gets wet: newly discovered iron minerals that can store water at the extremely high temperatures and pressures present near our planet's core.
U.S. ban on Canadian alcohol imports set to begin Tuesday
A coalition representing American bourbon distilleries, wineries and restaurant workers is urging the Trump administration to resolve the trade dispute ahead of the holidays
Bucket List Provides an Experiential Introduction into a World of Electronic Musical Entertainment
Bucket List, an experimental music band conceived at Stanford University, performed in Ring Family Performing Arts Hall a little over a week ago. The band consists of Mark Applebaum on keyboard and guitar, Andy Meyerson on percussion, and Travis Andrews on guitar. All members perform vocals. Their performance was titled “Achievement: Presented by the Achievement […]
Hayden Panettiere's ex Wladimir Klitschko petitions to protect their daughter's inheritance
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Hayden Panettiere's ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko has filed an urgent petition asking that he be allowed to act as their 11-year-old daughter's temporary representative in California
Study across 40 countries: Political activism linked to representation
Not happy with the election result? Don't worry. Election Day is not the only opportunity to influence politics.
Health experts stress importance of newborn screening
Screenings look for rare but serious health conditions that may not present right away and detect concerns like metabolic, endocrine and blood disorders.
Battle over progressive politics pits blue vs blue in this Seattle legislative district
Incumbent Sen. Jamie Pedersen and challenger Hannah Sabio-Howell talked to "Soundside" about their campaigns to represent the city's progressive district.
Dave & Buster's Entertainment (NASDAQ:PLAY) CFO Acquires 4,000 Shares of Company Stock
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY - Get Free Report) CFO Cory Hatton purchased 4,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $6.50 per share, for a total transaction of $26,000.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer owned 104,475 shares of the company's stock, valued at $679,087.50. This trade represents a 3.98% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.
Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Call Options on AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC)
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AMC - Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading on Monday. Stock investors acquired 161,950 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 50% compared to the average daily volume of 107,856 call options.
Iowa State Association of Counties brings on new government relations director
Emily Schwickerath has joined the Iowa State Association of Counties as the director of government relations. She comes to the team after working with U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District. She has also worked in the Iowa Legislature and hopes to bring her governmental experience to ISAC to strengthen relationships between…
SSM Health Dean Medical Group nurses vote to unionize
This comes just a few months after nurses at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital voted for union representation.
Taylor Swift's 'Patient Zero' video premieres during historic VMAs
Taylor Swift debuted her video for 'Patient Zero' at a historic MTV VMAs for the pop superstar, who broke a Beyoncé record. The video featured Swift's 'good friend' Dakota Johnson, who also presented Swift with an award during the event.
Opinion: Brandon Johnson is wrong about Michael Sacks
As leaders of unions representing more than 100,000 working families across Chicago, we strongly disagree with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s recent attacks on Michael Sacks.
Bobby Kotick’s lawyers sent me a bad email (and later apologized)
The message I had received was unsettling—for a moment. Then it was just really confusing. Back on January 20 of this year, at 5:15pm ET, I received an email with the subject line “Legal Correspondence re Bobby Kotick.” It was from the law firm Clare Locke, a firm I’d heard had been emailing reporters in recent years about their coverage of Kotick, the former, longtime CEO of Activision Blizzard. The letter was threatening. A lawyer from the firm introduced themselves as “defamation counsel to Bobby Kotick.” They issued a “demand” that I “correct” a Game File article I’d published a week prior. The article that had irked them had been a scoop of sorts. I’d written about a a 2022 lawsuit brought by a Swedish pension fund, AP7, over Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard. The suit wasn’t news, but I was first to review and report about Kotick’s extensive pushback to the fund’s claims. The pension fund’s core contention was that the sale had been rushed by Kotick to avoid the consequences of sexual misconduct scandals swirling around the company in 2021. (He’d not been accused of misconduct himself in those suits, to be clear.) As I wrote at the time, Kotick had denied the allegations of the rushed sale. Beyond that, Kotick used a December 2025 reply to the Swedish fund’s lawsuit to assign blame for those workplace scandals, the bad press and even for the AP7 lawsuit. I’d found Kotick’s arguments novel and newsworthy. Across nearly 3,000 words, I explained Kotick’s take: that a Swedish gaming company was behind the Swedish fund’s lawsuit (the Embracer group; they denied it); that the Microsoft-Activision deal was not rushed and was secured at what Kotick felt history had proven to be an optimal price for shareholders; that he believed a conspiracy of people at unions government agencies, PR firms and the media had spun up claims of widespread workplace misconduct at Activision Blizzard in 2021. The article gave context for all of this, letting readers assess the claims and weigh their credibility. As I’d later write to Kotick’s lawyers: I would be surprised if you could point to any news article about Bobby Kotick in the last five years that has spent more of its wordcount articulating his point of view. He is welcome to do an interview with Game File any time. Nonetheless, there they were in my inbox that Tuesday evening: Clare Locke, the law firm that secured a $787.5 million settlement from Fox News over false statements about voting machines. They were emailing me, threatening that failure to comply with their demand could support a claim of “actual malice,” a legal standard for libel. Unless… Unless, they said, I added a key paragraph to my article. This was a paragraph that I already knew Kotick’s lawyers had been emailing reporters about for at least a year, and it was a paragraph that was already in my article. The paragraph they wanted is from a 2023 settlement that California’s Civil Rights Department struck with Activision Blizzard. The settlement had closed a two-year-old lawsuit over alleged sexual discrimination at the game maker. The paragraph basically said that claims of systemic or widespread sexual harassment—or of execs like Kotick tolerating such behavior—had never been proven. I’d already seen proof that Kotick’s lawyers had pushed for the settlement’s language to be added to reports about 2021 sexual discrimination and misconduct lawsuits brought against Activision Blizzard by California and, separately, by the U.S. federal government (both suits were since settled). I knew that Kotick and his lawyers felt that the California settlement language should be mentioned in the same breath as references to an article he hated and denied, a November 2021 Wall Street Journal article claiming Kotick knew “for years” of sexual misconduct at Activision Blizzard. So, in the Game File article that Clare Locke emailed me about, in the interest of ensuring I was being fair and balanced regarding the person I was covering, I had already included the following excerpt from the California settlement [emphasis added in bold]: (Kotick has repeatedly pushed back against that November article in the Wall Street Journal, citing among other things, language from a court-approved consent decree as part of Activision’s 2023 $54 million settlement over the California suit. It states: “no court or any independent investigation has substantiated any allegations that: there has been systemic or widespread sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard [or] that Activision Blizzard senior executives ignored, condoned, or tolerated a culture of systemic harassment, retaliation, or discrimination.”) On the evening of January 20, I was incredulous. How do you write a four page legal threat about a week-old article and miss this? While scrambling to also make my kids dinner, I wrote a lengthy reply to Clare Locke’s lawyers, basically asking them to cool it with the threats and to start making sense. In part, I wrote: I hope you can understand why I am having trouble understanding what you’re asking for, when the statement you’re demanding to see in Game File’s article already appears in Game File’s article. Actual malice, as you know, refers to a reckless disregard for the truth. I’m not sure what your argument is when my article already states your client’s position. Here is where I should remind you, the reader, that I am an independent journalist. I publish on Substack, and have availed myself of the Substack Defender program that provides writers on the platform with legal support. But I’m no Wall Street Journal or New York Times, nor even IGN or GameSpot when it comes to such things as, well, having a legal department. There are more fun things for me to do as an independent journalist than writing back to a powerful law firm representing a very rich person. On the evening of January 20th, I was just trying to cook some pasta, broccoli and chicken nuggets for hungry twins. Nevertheless, I wrote back to them. Two hours later, I got a reply. Summarizing: A lawyer for Clare Locke said they’d “reviewed an incomplete version” of my article and they “apologize for the confusion.” (My guess: Someone didn’t read past the piece’s paywall, even though they’d had a full week to scrounge up the funds to do so. What I’d published above the paywall was balanced, as was what came after.)1 That was almost that, but something about the situation bothered me. The letter had been marked “confidential.” I hadn’t agreed to that, and I disliked the idea that powerful people on the beat that I cover would act like they could unilaterally control what I might tell my readers about. On the morning of the 21st, having already gotten the powerful law firm to back off, I oh-so-wisely re-approached them with just one more thing. I thanked them for clearing things up the night before but noted that I’d never agreed to keep their letter confidential. I’m all for agreeing with a source to keep things off the record, but that’s the thing. We have to agree. You can’t just declare it. I’m not bound by that. I wrote to Clare Locke’s lawyer and said, in part: I trust the matter is resolved. It was disappointing to have to spend less time with my kids last night in order to address your legal letter. Family time’s precious. I will add, for clarity’s sake, that, while your letter stipulated that it was confidential, I did not agree to those terms. In the future, should you wish to communicate with me confidentially, I am happy to agree to classifying our communication as “off the record” prior to the actual communication—as is standard with any professional journalist. The firm’s lawyer replied, not directly addressing the confidentiality issue but asserting that the matter was resolved. Why I didn’t write about this until now In May, I told this story on an episode of Simon Parkin’s podcast My Perfect Console, but I held off on sharing it directly with Game File readers. I held off to avoid stepping on the toes of another reporter, the journalist Mikhail Klimentov. He’d interviewed me in the spring of 2025 about an investigation he was working on regarding Bobby Kotick lawyers pressing the media to add the California settlement language to stories referencing the 2021 lawsuits. And about how some outlets had changed their stories and how some simply deleted them. Initially, I was a third-party source for Klimentov’s reporting, providing on-the-record context about the state of the games media. I’d heard about the letters but hadn’t put the time into pursuing the story. I thought it was interesting, and I was glad he was covering it. When the outlet that Klimentov was going to run his reporting in dropped the story, I began talking to him about potentially publishing his reporting on Game File. This was tentative. Then, in January, when I got my own Clare Locke letter, I told Klimentov that I didn’t think it would make sense for me to publish him, not with me now being part of the story. I had my own version of this situation to tell. But I wished him well and said I’d refrain from telling my tale until he could get his reporting out there. Last Friday, Klimentov finally ran his investigation, in a nearly 48-minute video report for People Make Games. It covers various Clare Locke letters, how media outlets reacted to them and what to make of all this. His video weighs the merits of Kotick’s request and looks at some of the articles that were changed (one of which had a glaring error). I highly recommend watching it: (Note, I did some editorial consulting for a People Make Games video last year but nothing to do with this report.) While many outlets haven’t left any public evidence that they updated their Kotick coverage at Kotick’s counsel’s request, at least one has. Back in October 2025, the mainstream outlet Reuters applied the most transparent article update I’ve seen. On the 3rd of the month, they published an article about the state of the Swedish pension fund’s lawsuit. Days later, they added this: In an October 7 letter sent after publication of this article, Kotick’s defamation counsel disputed claims of widespread harassment at Activision. “Not a single investigation, court finding, verdict, or ruling ever concluded that there was any merit” to the allegations of widespread harassment at Activision, Tom Clare and Nick Brechbill of Clare Locke wrote. I’ve never added a statement to my article on Game File, because none was needed. Not for fairness’ sake, nor to meet any demands of Kotick’s lawyers. I’ve nevertheless wanted to be transparent with Game File readers. If someone powerful is questioning my reporting, is threatening a lawsuit over it… if that threat is part of a pattern involving other games media outlets and if, in my case, the whole thing ran into a ridiculous ditch, I want you to know about it. I also share this as a real example of how I handle threats to Game File. I stand up for my own reporting, even when it’s not comfortable to do so. (In that same category of standing up for the work I do, I’ll point to an incident in late August. Asocial media post I published to X/Twitter regarding reporting I did about Take Two and GTA VI was hit by bogus copyright claim by a firm working for the publisher. I pushed back and got it reversed; even while a bigger games media outlet let themselves be censored. This is the other reason I’m sharing this story: To emphasize that dealing with threats from powerful people is one of the costs of covering the video game industry independently and as fearlessly as possible. This is where you come in. Your support, through free and paid subscriptions (sign up here!), can help me keep doing that. It can ensure that I’ve got the back-up I need. And it can help make fiascoes like this even less of a worry, so I can spend my evenings dealing with more important things, such as making sure I steam the kids’ broccoli just right. 1 That pension fund lawsuit I wrote about in January has all but gone away. In May, the fund and Activision Blizzard owner Microsoft agreed to settle. Lawyers for the fund brokered a $250 million settlement for former Activision Blizzard shareholders. In the settlement, the fund’s lawyers changed their rhetoric. Where once they’d questioned the meaning of the California settlement language, they adopted a version of it for themselves. Several weeks ago, while seeking to get a court to sign off on the terms of the settlement, they proposed their fee for their work in the case: $60 million.
A stock award for AMC Entertainment (AMC)'s CFO is set to vest over three Januaries, subject to service.
Granted September 24, the stock rights each represent one Class A share. One-third is scheduled to vest each January from 2027 through 2029, subject to service.
7wire Ventures Presents: Top of the Ladder Featuring Karoo Health Co-Founder & CEO Ian Koons
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Joshua Burnside Will Perform At Narrows Center
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HYROX Partnership Brings Fitness Racing to The HFA Show 2027
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Blumenthal, Lamont: Trump blocking CT grants for political reasons
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Rep. Button has beat back tough challengers before. Will she do it again?
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2026 MTV VMAs red carpet: The best, boldest and most 'wait, what?!' outfits, from Belmont Cameli's Canadian tuxedo to Taylor Swift's stunning sparkles
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Poll: 2026 A.L. Champions
Who will be the American League representative in the 2026 World Series?
Newcastle Confirms Coca-Cola Partnership Agreement
Newcastle United continues to expand its commercial operation, with the club looking to strengthen revenue streams and broaden its reach beyond matchday football to eventually compete on equal financial terms with the Big Six. The club has confirmed a multi-year partnership with Coca-Cola, which becomes Newcastle’s official soft drinks partner and the presenting partner of […]
Science camp students give presentation to Fennimore School Board
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The Everglades matter: Miccosukee Arts & Science Symposium takes place October 2
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Free interactive event includes presentations, workshops, field trips, film festival, and more, including Spanish-language programming at the Miccosukee Casino and Resort The Miccosukee Arts & Science Symposium (MASS) is a biennial collaborative event between the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the South-Florida based arts and conservation organization, […]
Business Beyond the Beach: David Sexton| President, Normandy Fountain Business Assoc.
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... 🎙 Welcome to the Business Beyond the Beach Talk Show! The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce is proud to present Business Beyond the Beach, the exclusive Chamber talk show created in partnership with Miami’s Community Newspapers. This series highlights the stories of Miami Beach Chamber members making an impact […]
NFL Monday Night Football best bets Week 3
The Eagles and Bears meet up with Caleb Williams inactive, and it presents interesting prop betting opportunities.
Tranche Update on Clean & Science co., Ltd's Equity Buyback Plan announced on September 7, 2026.
From September 7, 2026 to September 28, 2026, the company has repurchased 161,862 shares, representing 2.65% for KRW 500 million. With this, the company has completed the repurchase of 161,862 shares,...
How do Ohio Indian Americans feel about Vivek Ramaswamy?
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Uptown Somerset growing new business opportunities in familiar places
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Civil Rights photographer sees echoes of past in South Carolina debates
Civil Rights photographer Cecil Williams says South Carolina has made progress, but new debates over race and representation remain.
Civil Rights photographer sees echoes of past in South Carolina debates
Civil Rights photographer Cecil Williams says South Carolina has made progress, but new debates over race and representation remain.
Dave Nissley and Dale Hamby vie for 100th House District seat
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Baxter Health physician honored with Heroes with Halos Award
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Psycho-cardiovascular interaction network links mental health and heart disease
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Navigating the American Dream: How Integrated Financial Tools, Credit and Rewards Can Help Small Businesses Succeed
(Feature Impact) Owning a small business has been a cornerstone of the “American Dream” for generations. It represents the chance to transform a passion into a livelihood and legacy. However, turning dreams into reality is rarely a smooth or easy process and requires more than ambition alone. Today’s business owners need support and access to tools that enable them to overcome challenges and keep growing.#placement_678081_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid678081 = window.pid678081 || rnd;var plc678081 = window.plc678081 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=678081;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid678081+';place='+(plc678081++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Recent research conducted by the Capital One Insights Center shows 75% of more than 1,000 surveyed small business owners with more than one employee and annual revenues of up to $20 million are confident about the future, and 69% believe their business is actively primed for growth.While this optimism is promising, 47% of business owners still said their operations either stayed the same or became less efficient over the past year, citing issues like back-office friction and fragmented financial systems that make it difficult to get a clear picture of the health of their businesses.If you’re a small business owner eager to grow but not sure how to get there, start with this advice from real small business owners and experts at Capital One.Identify Sources of FrictionBefore you can pour effort into growth, you must understand what barriers are holding you back. Take time to look under the hood of your business to identify where time and energy is being lost.For example, you may be among the 78% of small business owners who feel stressed and uncertain about expense management – think hours spent hunting for receipts, manually entering numbers into software and reconciling accounts. Operational challenges aren’t just a hassle; they also pull attention away from important priorities like serving your customers and planning for growth. “We were focused on making as many candles as possible, especially during the busy season,” said Katie Roering, co-owner of Fontana Candle Co. “A lot of the back-office tasks like procurement, raw material purchasing, forecasting – all the really important things – were done at 3 a.m., 8 p.m. or on Saturday and Sunday, and there really just was not enough time in the day to get everything done that we needed to. We just knew as we continued to grow, we needed to streamline our processes, build out our team and keep moving forward.”Use Integrated Tools to Manage FinancesInstead of balancing 10 different tracking and analysis tools, you can turn to one-stop solutions to improve efficiency. Time gets lost when you’re forced to manually gather and interpret relevant data before you’re able to act. You need a platform that handles the busywork for you.Integrated, or “all-in-one,” financial tools – like accounting and bookkeeping platforms with automation capabilities or business credit cards featuring built-in analytical tools – allow you to easily stay on top of cash flow and day-to-day operations. For small businesses where every hour and dollar makes a difference, consolidating and automating systems can have an immediate impact. In fact, 51% of survey respondents said integrated tools have already fueled their growth.Leverage Credit Access and Rewards WiselyGrowth requires capital, so access to credit is a game-changer for many business owners, with 77% describing it as a key factor in achieving business resilience. Having funds accessible when you need them makes your business more capable of weathering storms such as equipment failures and seasonal slowdowns. It also puts the power in your hands to act when an exciting opportunity presents itself, like an inventory flash sale or the chance to advertise in a new market.Access to credit comes with another advantage: rewards. By using credit cards for your daily business expenses, you can earn cash back, points or travel rewards. Whether you redeem these to cover everyday expenses, book business trips or reinvest in the business, they can act as a bonus source of income. Learn to maximize rewards like the 84% of small business cardholders surveyed so you aren’t leaving money on the table.To learn more about how small business owners can identify obstacles, employ integrated financial tools and use credit as a tool for growth, read the full report at capitalone.com/about/insights-center.Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
‘All INdiana Politics’: Property tax reform and childcare costs dominate debate in key State Senate race
INDIANAPOLIS — The race for Indiana’s 29th State Senate district has emerged as a focal point for the upcoming elections as candidates compete for an open seat in a key swing district. The vacancy follows State Senator J.D. Ford’s decision to challenge U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz for her seat in Congress. The 29th District stretches […]
UNREAL! Columbus Crew stun Inter Miami with late winner
By Ben SteinerDid Jamal Thiaré just save the Columbus Crew's season?After allowing one of Lionel Messi’s best goals for Inter Miami CF, the Crew staged a remarkable Sunday Night Soccer presented b...
2026 MTV VMAs red carpet: The best, boldest and most 'wait, what?!' outfits, from Belmont Cameli's Canadian tuxedo to Sombr's sexy skunk
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What the smell of a soil can tell us about soil health
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Why rehabilitation cannot be an afterthought in a health emergency: a new WHO toolkit is put to the test
When disaster strikes, saving lives is the priority. But what happens to the people who sustain injuries such as amputations, spinal cord damage, brain injury, or complex fractures if rehabilitation is not part of the response plan from the start? That question shaped a four-day training workshop held in Nadi, Fiji, from 14 to 17 April 2026, where 23 emergency managers, rehabilitation professionals, and partner representatives from 12 countries piloted a new World Health Organization (WHO) toolkit designed to help ministries of health build rehabilitation into their emergency preparedness planning.
WHO recognizes healthy, innovative cities across the Western Pacific Region
Nine Healthy City champions from across the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region received special recognition at an awarding ceremony during the 11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Sydney, Australia.The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has presented the Healthy Cities Recognition Awards every two years since 2004 to celebrate innovative and impactful city-led initiatives that improve the health and well-being of urban populations.Eight cities received awards for their best practices, and one National Forum received the WHO Regional Director’s Special Award in recognition of its long-standing leadership in advancing the Healthy Cities movement.Awardees were selected through a rigorous evaluation process and recognized for demonstrating measurable, innovative and sustainable approaches to health challenges faced by cities.Remarking on the significance of the awards, Dr Huong Tran, Director of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control at the Regional Office, said that, “There is no single blueprint for a healthy city. What works in one context may need to be adapted to another. But by sharing our experiences, including what worked, what was challenging, and what we learnt along the way, we can help one another move faster and further.”Award-winning cities and initiativesThis year's awards recognize outstanding city-led initiatives that have demonstrated measurable impact, innovation and sustainability in advancing health initiatives for urban populations.Baguio City (Philippines) – Data for equity: informing action, improving healthDr Donnabel Tubera-Panes, City Epidemiologist – Medical Officer IV of the Health Services Office accepted the award on behalf of Baguio City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisBaguio City was recognized for developing a pioneering Livability Index that provides village-level data across all 128 barangays (villages), enabling evidence-based planning and more equitable allocation of resources. By integrating community participation and institutionalizing the index within city planning and budgeting processes, the city has demonstrated how data can drive action to reduce health and social inequities.Eunpyeong-gu (Seoul, Republic of Korea) – Communities living in vulnerable situations: advancing health equity through community engagementVice Mayor Honourable Ahn Hyoung Jun accepted the award on behalf of Eunpyeong-gu. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisEunpyeong-gu was recognized for its inclusive health equity programme supporting vulnerable populations, including isolated older adults and LGBTQI+ communities. Through peer-led community networks, social cooperatives and inclusive service design, the district has strengthened access to care, promoted social inclusion and advanced community ownership of health initiatives.Madiun City (Indonesia) – Adapting and mitigating climate-related crises: building heat resilience and preventing flood-related health risksMs Yuni Dwi Purwani, Secretary General of the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies, accepted the award on behalf of Madiun City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisMadiun City was recognized for its SUPERMIE (Sustainable Public Environmental Management Initiative) – a community-based environmental governance model that addresses urban flooding, climate resilience and environmental sustainability. The initiative contributed to reductions in flood-prone areas, greenhouse gas emissions, diarrhoeal disease and dengue fever, while at the same time improving food security through neighbourhood food gardens. The programme has already been replicated in 15 cities and regencies across Indonesia.Macao Special Administrative Region (China) – Protecting communities from tobacco and alcohol-related harms: tackling commercial drivers of riskDr LO Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau, Macao SAR, China accepted the award on behalf of Macao. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisMacao SAR was recognized for implementing a comprehensive and integrated approach to tobacco and alcohol control. Through legislation, monitoring systems, enforcement, public awareness campaigns and multisectoral partnerships, the programme has strengthened protection against major risk factors for noncommunicable diseases and established a model that is highly transferable to other urban settings.Phnom Penh Capital City (Cambodia) – Safe, active and health-enabling transport: advancing health and reducing inequities in urban mobilityH.E. Khoung Sreng, Governor of Phnom Penh Capital City accepted the award on behalf of Phnom Penh Capital City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisPhnom Penh received the award for its Safe School Zone Project, which combines infrastructure improvements, speed management, enforcement, education and stakeholder engagement to protect children and communities. The initiative has demonstrated measurable reductions in crashes and vehicle speeds while providing a scalable model for safer urban mobility across the country.Quezon City (Philippines) – Transforming food environments: addressing policy, market and urban design drivers of health and nutritionMs Jirah Asa M. Sideco, Chief of the Nutrition Section of the Quezon City Health Department accepted the award on behalf of Quezon City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisQuezon City was recognized for its public food procurement policy that promotes healthier diets through government-run institutions and feeding programmes. Supported by strong policy frameworks and monitoring systems, the initiative improves access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations while serving as a benchmark for other local governments.Samarinda City (Indonesia) – Preventing violence and promoting gender equality: transforming urban systems, norms and spaces Mrs Rinda Wahyuni, Chairperson of Samarinda Healthy City Forum accepted the award on behalf of Samarinda City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisSamarinda City was recognized for its multisectoral approach to preventing violence and advancing gender equality. Responding to local evidence on violence against women and children, the city has positioned violence prevention as a public health priority, bringing together health services, schools, social welfare institutions, law enforcement, civil society and community leaders to strengthen prevention, reporting, survivor-centred support and legal protection. Through inclusive policies, community engagement and sustainable city financing, Samarinda has developed a locally owned and scalable model for creating safer, more equitable and inclusive urban communities.Singapore – Age-friendly cities: transforming systems to bridge generations for a healthier tomorrowDr Tan Weng Mooi, Director, Integrated Health Promotion, accepted the award on behalf of Singapore. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisSingapore received recognition for its Healthy Precinct Framework, which translates national healthy ageing priorities into neighbourhood-level action. The initiative integrates preventive care, social support, service coordination and age-friendly environments while actively engaging older persons, caregivers and community organizations. Its expansion across multiple precincts demonstrates its scalability and long-term sustainability.WHO Regional Director’s Special AwardNational Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies (Indonesia)Ms Yuni Dwi Purwani, Secretary General of the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies, accepted the award on behalf of the National Forum. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisThe WHO Regional Director's Special Award was presented to the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies (FKKSI) in recognition of its long-standing leadership in advancing the Healthy Cities movement across Indonesia. As a national platform bringing together local governments, communities, academia and civil society, FKKSI has played a critical role in promoting collaboration, capacity-building, knowledge exchange and advocacy. Its efforts have strengthened and institutionalized healthy urban development nationwide and established a model for multisectoral engagement in the Region. Healthy Cities for allThe 2026 Healthy Cities Recognition Awards highlight how cities can lead transformative action on health by addressing climate change, inequity, ageing, nutrition, mobility, social inclusion, violence prevention and the commercial determinants of health. The recognized initiatives demonstrate that local governments, communities and partners can work together to create healthier, safer and more resilient urban environments for everyone. As urban populations continue to grow across the Western Pacific Region, WHO remains committed to supporting cities in advancing health, equity and sustainable development through the Healthy Cities approach and the Alliance for Healthy Cities. ###Note to editorsSince 2004, the WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards have provided a platform for cities to share innovative and effective approaches to improving health and well-being. The awards recognize achievements in areas including climate resilience, healthy ageing, health equity, gender equality, tobacco and alcohol control, urban mobility, nutrition and data-driven governance. In 2026, more than 150 submissions were received from cities and local governments across the Western Pacific Region. The titles and affiliations of awardees are presented as they were at the time the photo was taken.______________For more information, or to arrange media interviews, contact: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific: wprocom@who.int
Art that serves others: How a Harnett County muralist is making a lasting mark in her community
Van Goat Studios, which has been operating since 2019, has allowed Johnson to express herself and reflect the spirit of local communities through murals. Photo provided by Elyse Johnson.Elyse Johnson of Van Goat Studios in Dunn wants to spread her artistry and make a lasting mark in her community. Van Goat, which has been operating since 2019, has allowed Johnson to express herself through murals and decorating electrical boxes in the urban landscapes of North Carolina. On top of traditional mural painting, Johnson offers what she calls “portable murals,” an option tailor-made for structure owners who do not want to commit to a design for their wall.“A contractor builds a framed piece of wood, and then they can frame the ‘mural’ onto the wood, whether it’s into their building, whether it’s interior or exterior,” Johnson said. The beginnings of Johnson’s journey into establishing Van Goat Studios reflect the teachings she wants artists to take away today: everything is a learning opportunity. When she started Van Goat, she shared it was a joint venture with a business partner. “I mainly did that because I didn’t feel like I was ready to go and do this on my own,” Johnson said. Her business partner eventually dropped out of the project, deciding she wanted to pursue other forms of art. That is when Johnson was thrust into growing her business on her own during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I had built up my confidence enough to go out and reach new heights,” she said. “And I was probably one of the few that benefited from COVID.”The moment presented a silver lining for Johnson. One of her first projects was a Farmers Day mural for the town of Coats. “When COVID-19 hit, Coats was not able to hold their annual festival, so they had a little bit of savings. They decided they wanted to do something for their community without getting anyone sick,” Johnson said.From there, word of mouth spread. Now, Johnson has an organic way of approaching projects. “Like a lot of muralists, if I feel inspired by a building, I will just go up and talk to that building owner and tell them a mural is something they should consider,” Johnson said. But above all, Johnson says she wants art to be accessible to everyone. Johnson said she is trying to stick to projects that benefit “the little guys.” “I’m not trying to go for a project in downtown Raleigh to get the eight-foot-tall building,” Johnson said. “I’m not trying to go to those major cities and get those huge buildings for two reasons: one, I don’t want to go that high; two, my passion really lies with the small guys.” But due to financial constraints and the material reality of art commerce, that requires open communication, she added. “I don’t want to just snowball you with this huge price, and then you just shut me down because it wasn’t what you were thinking,” Johnson said. “At the same time, I am an advocate for the arts, so I’m not going to give you a $10,000 mural when you’re only going to pay $5,000.” There is a healthy balance in explaining the artistic process and working with clients and the surrounding community, Johnson said.“Your municipality invested this, and this is why they invested this, and this is how it’s going to help and improve your community,” she noted. “Same thing when I’m talking to a small business. You asked for me to come at you with this that is outside your budget. How do we make this still your same exact goal, but within your budget lines?” Johnson also provides lessons to aspiring artists. She does so with a mission: how do you master the balance between being a great artist and a competent business owner? “We still do art lessons, but I’m also going to give you business scenarios,” she noted.One of the scenarios she has come up with for her students is a T-shirt competition. “The kids have to think about ‘okay, I can’t just draw whatever I want on a T-shirt. I need to think about what colors Miss Elyse likes. What does Miss Elyse’s logo look like? What would Miss Elyse like?’” Johnson said. “So the design needs to be around that kind of concept.” As Johnson looks toward the future of Van Goat Studios, she is thinking of time, longevity and succession. Johnson is a new mom, which she said has shaped how she sees the future of the studio.“I still want my name and my business out there continuing, so that when my daughter is of age and she can be more independent, then I can be out there doing more and more,” Johnson said. “I would love to get a student to pass this on to, or an intern. I would love for this business to be passed on to the next generation and let them go.”
Oak Group's Art Show Benefits California Rangeland Trust
Building on four decades of promoting preservation through art, The Oak Group will present its fall 2026 show and sale benefiting the California Rangeland
Our bodies react to microplastics in a way scientists never expected - Futura-Sciences
When Microplastics Go Straight to the Lungs Microplastics: the word alone might send your mind racing through images of floating trash islands or bottles bobbing in rivers. It’s now a scientific fact that microplastics are omnipresent in our environment. But while their presence is undeniable, much remains to be understood—especially...
Millions more people with overweight could benefit from GLP-1 drugs to protect heart health, study suggests
New research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy, Sept. 28–Oct. 2, makes a case for extending the indication for GLP-1 receptor ...
New Laird Law Expands Access to Long-Acting HIV Prevention Medicine
Official website of Senator John Laird, representing California Senate District 17.
Gándara Center works to improve Latino mental health care
During Hispanic Heritage Month, the Gándara Center is highlighting the importance of cultural representation and language access in addressing mental health needs within Latino communities across w…
Photos show Baghdad Ballet Academy students taking the stage at Baghdad’s Al-Sinbad Theater
BAGHDAD (AP) — Students from Baghdad’s Ballet Academy performed a production titled “Mermaid” before an audience at Al-Sinbad Theater on Friday. Wearing colorful costumes, dancers of different ages presented solo and ensemble routines, moving through choreographed formations, leaps and turns...
‘All INdiana Politics’: Property tax reform and childcare costs dominate debate in key State Senate race
INDIANAPOLIS — The race for Indiana’s 29th State Senate district has emerged as a focal point for the upcoming elections as candidates compete for an open seat in a key swing district. The vacancy follows State Senator J.D. Ford’s decision to challenge U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz for her seat in Congress. The 29th District stretches […]
📸 These brothers who played together for their national team
What could be more powerful than representing your country? Doing it alongside your brother! From one generation to the next, several families have seen two brothers wear the same national team shirt ...
Iran Won’t Back Off from Conditions for Reopening Hormuz: FM
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran has clearly presented its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and advancing negotiations, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, stressing that Tehran will not back down from those conditions.
FUTURE-HEALTH
Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi convened Ministers, senior government representatives, and global health leaders in New York on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the