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Neighborhood Mobile Clinics Closing Healthcare Gaps Across Bexar County
Regular health check ups and screenings can save lives, but are out of reach for many in Bexar County. Health Collaborative is closing those gaps with regular s
Preparing neighborhoods and small businesses for a summer of sports
Together with our partners, we are committed to making the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup an unforgettable moment for Seattle – one that strengthens local businesses, celebrates our neighborhoods, and showcases Seattle on a global stage.
Oakland Celebrates Small Business Week May 3–9
The City of Oakland’s Economic & Workforce Development Department announces Oakland Small Business Week 2026, running Sunday, May 3 through Saturday, May 9. This year’s theme — This Is Town Business — is a direct nod to the small businesses that define Oakland’s neighborhoods and drive its economy every day.
🗞️ The district dazzling Europe, on Friday’s front pages
Vallecas is living a dream. Last night, the Madrid neighborhood experienced one of its most special evenings thanks to its flagship club: Rayo Vallecano.La Franja earned a golden result against Strasb...
Thurby crowds bring business to Churchill Downs neighbors
As crowds poured into Churchill Downs for Thurby, nearby homeowners turned Derby week traffic into an opportunity.
Health officials monitor West Valley neighborhood for possible Parkinson's disease cases
A neighborhood has been monitored by Utah health officials for possible cases of Parkinson's disease.The officials emphasized that the effort is in an early dat
Ahead of ‘The Neighborhood’ Finale, What Happened to the Spinoffs?
Find out how you can still dive into the world of the beloved sitcom.
Venezuela and Colombia: Immigration Options for Global Employers Renewing Business Activity in the Region (Video Chat)
Our attorneys examine how Venezuela and key neighboring jurisdictions—particularly Colombia—are reshaping immigration, employment, and workforce
ChristianaCare Advances New Health Campus in Camden, Delaware to Close Care Gaps
ChristianaCare has taken another major step to expand access to high quality care across Delaware by submitting a Notice of Intent to the Delaware Health Resources Board to develop a new health campus in Camden. Like the Georgetown campus announced in February, the proposed campus will include a health center and a neighborhood hospital and is part […]
First-ever 3D view shows how killer T cells destroy cancer
The body’s “killer” T cells don’t just attack—they strike with astonishing precision, forming a tiny, highly organized contact zone that lets them destroy dangerous cells without harming their neighbors. Now, scientists have captured this process in unprecedented detail, revealing a hidden world of molecular choreography.
SODO Business Improvement Area supports businesses, neighborhood to create a vibrant community
SODO is a unique neighborhood. Named for its location south of the Kingdome, the district grew from filled-in tidal flats to a vibrant and diverse business district. Supporting the neighborhood’s businesses is the SODO Business Improvement Area. “We focus on a lot of different areas mainly around cleaning, safe transportation, economic development, and community engagement,” […]
Dupont Circle small businesses seek financial help amid city construction project
Some business owners in Dupont Circle say a construction project aimed at improving the D.C. neighborhood is hurting sales.
What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Tuesday, April 28, 2026: South Park, Avonworth write next chapter in rivalry
The two high schools are not neighbors, as the distance between them is 37 miles.
‘The Neighborhood’ Star Hank Greenspan Teases Series’ ‘Bittersweet’ Ending
Find out if he wants to continue acting and more about his film, 'Ethan Bloom.'
Widow of business owner reports scammers claiming to be representatives from company: Brunswick Hills Townshi
Also in this week’s Brunswick Hills Township Police blotter, a man threatens his neighbor over debris from a ditch.
Michael Banky
Marquette Bank, Chicagoland's neighborhood bank, has promoted Michael Banky to Executive Vice President, Chief Operating and Information Officer.
Leading on health care solutions - Talk Business & Politics
In Arkansas and across the heartland, we are used to solving problems together. That instinct — to step up for our neighbors, to find practical solutions and to work together...
Brown: In northern Minn., junk speaks to emotional divide in politics
"Keeping the neighborhood clean is a shared value, especially in town, but rural attitudes about inoperable vehicles vary considerably," columnist Aaron Brown writes.
Business owner worried as Hwy. 1 closure in San Francisco continues
Caltrans says they finished up one lane overnight and are moving on to the next. However, In the neighborhood there is mixed reaction, from relief to some concern, with three weekends of work.
Channel 24 marks first year in Midtown Sacramento with praise from neighbors, businesses
Channel 24, Sacramento’s newest music venue, is celebrating one year in business in the heart of the Newton Booth neighborhood in Midtown.
Green Line Apothecary returns as ice cream shop
A longtime neighborhood apothecary is making a comeback, but this time, it’s trading medications for ice cream.Green Line Apothecary, a family-owned business, i
Are You Overdue for a Doctor's Visit? We'll Come to You!
Cone Health’s mobile medicine program brings primary care, heart health, women’s services, and cancer screenings directly to neighborhoods, removing barriers to care.
Dueling events at Baylor spotlight growing divide over faith and politics on campus
At Baylor, a Turning Point USA event and the All Are Neighbors gathering reveal deep divides over faith, politics and LGBTQ+ inclusion on campus.
Columbia Business School’s Community Impact Club Builds on a Legacy of Student Volunteerism in Harlem
The club’s co-presidents, Leticia De Mattei Goncalves (BUS’26) and William Szczecinski (BUS’26), discuss making a local impact while pursuing their MBAs.
Drought restrictions 'a bit of a nightmare,' business owner says
The City of Raleigh says inspectors are out in neighborhoods making sure people understand and follow the new watering rules.
Size of Starbucks workforce in Nashville announced
At 2,000 employees, it would be more than half the head count at its current headquarters in Seattle's Sodo neighborhood, where it has been since the early 1990s.
FSU's "Art in STEM" exhibition shows the beauty of science
The exhibition helps the FSU community "bridge the gap between scientific discovery and popular interest." Neighbors can view the exhibition at FSU's Dirac Science Library through the summer.
Mystery of NJ neighborhood with ‘crazy high percentage’ of people with cancer — including 28 on one street
Local Politics: City Council votes today on plans to turn McCoy Park into an NWSL training facility
After spending years working with neighbors and promising improvements to benefit disabled residents, elected officials are prepared to give away a 28-acre park in the poorest corner of the city for the use of billionaire investors.
Editorial
Whether we're learning about our neighbors on the prairie, or what it's like on moon and beyond; remember that science is critical to understanding our world.
Photos: Inside ‘Camp Abundance’ with New Orleans artist Dawn DeDeaux ahead of Venice Biennale
See photos of New Orleans’ artist Dawn Dedeaux’s home in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood.
AI startup are moving into smaller neighborhoods to suit their culture
AI startups and their collaborative and fast-moving culture are leading them to choose office spaces away from downtown SF in smaller neighborhoods.
Greenfield community rallies around business owner stabbed at pizzeria
Neighbors in and around Greenfield are coming together to support a local business owner after he was stabbed, allegedly by his own son, earlier this week.
The Politics of Loving Kindness: Insights from a Birth Equity Initiative | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
What might happen across our country if those working to make life better for our neighbors embraced the politics of loving kindness? What if we were explicit about caring for all people, more than corporations or profit?
Bundles Scholar Ray Tebout Is Moving the Justice-Impacted Workforce Toward Business Partnerships
Ray Tebout’s Vision-to-Value concept combines project leadership, personal behavioral reflection, and intrapreneurship to create business value.
Eli McCann: We didn’t see eye to eye on politics, but we saw heart to heart as neighbors
Tribune columnist Eli McCann remembers the friendship formed with a neighbor — despite the clashes they shared over partisan politics.
Scientists discover bacteria can “explode” to spread antibiotic resistance
Scientists have uncovered a surprising twist in how bacteria share genes—including those that spread antibiotic resistance. Tiny virus-like particles called gene transfer agents (GTAs), once ancient viral invaders, have been repurposed by bacteria into delivery systems that shuttle DNA between neighboring cells. The study reveals a key control hub of three genes, dubbed LypABC, that triggers bacterial cells to burst open and release these DNA-packed couriers.
Jay Cheng resigns as head of wealthy S.F. political pressure group
The head of Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, one of the city's wealthiest political pressure groups, is out.
Why doctors are applauding this TV show's health plot line for women
Amanda Peet has praised "Your Friends & Neighbors" creator for including this storyline, especially since she’s also in perimenopause.
Colorado cannot afford to get the Colorado River wrong
By Larry Don Suckla Colorado and our neighboring states are standing on the edge of a crisis that is no longer theoretical. The Colorado River, the lifeline of the American west, is facing conditions that demand immediate, responsible action. If we fail to act wisely, the consequences will not just be environmental. Right now, the […]
Amid ‘constant' data center noise, Sterling residents also worry about health impact
Residents of a Sterling neighborhood already are upset about constant data center noise — and now they have a new concern. A study done for an environmental group shows emissions from the center could have severe health consequences. Operators of the data center say they are fully compliant with state and local rules. Whether it’s daytime or the dead of…
UChicago paleontologist announces plans for Washington Park science center focused on teen education
The more than 45,000-square-foot center planned for the Washington Park neighborhood will be free for teens across the state to visit.
In-patient mental health clinic in Chevy Chase neighborhood gets approval despite public outcry
The decision was met with boos of frustration at the meeting, with some opponents shouting, "See you in court."
Planting the Seed: Growing Tomorrow's Health Care Workforce One Field Trip at a Time
In a converted Save-A-Lot in the Binghampton neighborhood of Memphis, schoolchildren pull on white lab coats and more as they get to work.
Neighbors raise concern over proposed 1,260-acre business park annexation
CHEYENNE – The city of Cheyenne is eyeing the opportunity to annex approximately 1,260 acres west of town and zone it as a business park.
After contentious debates, Lexington board approves Chevy Chase mental health clinic
The proposed 52-bed clinic from Roaring Brook has been accused by neighbors of being a drug rehab clinic. The company says otherwise.
Louisville businesses, neighbors bracing for impact of I-65 closure this summer
We're less than 50 days away from I-65 being shut down in both directions in Louisville.
Belton 'Business Park' proposal draws neighbor pushback on warehouse development
Communities in Cass County, Missouri are changing each week, especially in Belton with new development projects popping up.
Chamber of Commerce Presents Achievement Awards
Event also marked 110th of the chamber’s presence in Oswego [caption id=attachment_10469 align=alignright width=450] Abby Waever and Keara Patterson (in the middle) receive the Community Leadership & Legacy Award, presented to The Alberts Group.[/caption] The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GOFCC) on March 4 hosted its 2026 Annual Meeting, presented by Constellation, at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center in Oswego. The event’s theme, Rooted in Community. The meeting celebrated the GOFCC’s 110th anniversary in the Oswego community and 10th anniversary of integration with CenterState CEO. The chamber also unveiled a new logo. “I am proud to say the GOFCC has been a force for business success, growth and opportunity, supporting organizations of every size, connecting neighbors and entrepreneurs and ensuring that every voice in Oswego County is heard,” said GOFCC Executive Director Sara Broadwell. The event featured keynote remarks from Novelis’s Kevin Schutt, vice president, manufacturing and production support at Novelis North America. [caption id=attachment_10454 align=alignright width=450] Maria Hudson of Constellation, holding the award, receives the Nancy L. Premo Woman of Distinction Award.[/caption] The GOFCC recognized the following organizations and individuals with achievement awards: • Oswego County Impact & Excellence Award, presented to Oswego County Office of Mobility Management. This award Honors a small business or nonprofit organization that demonstrates outstanding achievement through innovation, growth and measurable positive impact on Oswego County’s economy or quality of life. • Community Leadership & Legacy Award, presented to The Alberts Group. This award recognizes an individual, business or organization whose long-term leadership, investment or philanthropy has significantly advanced the vitality, resilience and future of Oswego County’s communities. • Nancy L. Premo Woman of Distinction Award, presented to Maria Hudson of Constellation. This award honors a woman in business who has made a meaningful impact on her community, inspired others through her leadership, and exemplified the values of service, integrity and empowerment. This award is presented in tribute to the late Nancy Premo, CenterState CEO’s former vice president of Human Resources.
Burglars ransack 5 businesses across 4 Chicago neighborhoods within 3 hours, police say
Police issued a warning about business burglaries on Chicago's South and Southwest sides.
Sunset Buzz: In a world of AI, Jay Pham says, consider an Irish sports bar
The Four Deuces, 2319 Taraval Street, has anchored the neighborhood for decades. The latest chapter comes with a change in ownership.
Crossroads District businesses react to Royals stadium proposal near their neighborhood
Local business owners in the Crossroads District reacted to the city's new Royals stadium proposal two years after voters denied a sales tax extension for a downtown baseball stadium.
Aviatra Accelerators to host Women-Owned Business Crawl April 25 in Covington
Aviatra Accelerators will showcase a new retail marketplace during its Women-Owned Business Crawl in downtown Covington and MainStrasse neighborhoods on Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature more than thirty women-owned businesses – from retail shops to bars, restaurants, and service providers – across Covington’s thriving small business community,...
Sacramento crematorium plan faces scrutiny as neighbors raise health concerns
St. Denis neighbors push back against business applying for liquor license
Less liquor stores and more community resources: that’s what residents of the St. Denis neighborhood are hoping for as they push back against a business applying for a liquor license.
Olivia Munn Says 'Obnoxious' Male Co-Star Wouldn't Let Her 'Save' Him On-Screen
The “Your Friends & Neighbors” star said the actor quickly grew “combative with the director” over the scene.
Ishbia family taking swing at youth sports facility for vacant Office Depot
(Editor’s Note: Alex Harrison Perry reported this story for Evanston RoundTable, a neighboring independent newsroom. It was shared with The Record as part of an ongoing collaborative effort.) The vacant Office Depot building at 2722 Green Bay Road — just a block south of Wilmette — could become a year-round site for youth sports, as a North Shore family […]
Detroit hiring retail director to boost stores in neighborhood business districts
Jeffrey Lewis II opened Morningside Cafe on Detroit’s east side three years ago and said he has seen growing momentum along East Warren Avenue.
Businesses in Rochester's EMMA, Beechwood neighborhoods to receive grant funding
Through KeyBank's Small Business Fund, local businesses can apply for grants from $2,500 to $10,000.
Washington State Ousted This Health Insurance Lookalike. In Oregon, It Carries On.
From one vantage, the story of Zion HealthShare shows Washington to be an overzealous nanny state. From another perspective, Oregon might stand to learn from its consumer-protection-minded neighbor to the north.
Business in Brief: New Van Ness businesses; Intelsat auction canceled; Whale Tea rebrands; I’m Eddie Cano bankruptcy update | Forest Hills Connection | News and Life in Our DC Neighborhood
Some Forest Hills Connection reporting involves poking our heads through open doors. Doing so recently yielded the news that the last remaining vacant retail space at Park Van Ness (4455 Connecticut Avenue) has been leased to an IV hydration spa. A contractor getting the space ready told us Hydralive Therapy is moving in. Similarly, we […]
‘Neighbors’ finds entertainment in the mundane
For fans of reality TV, a new series has entered the world of streaming services. “Neighbors,” an American television series, was released on Feb. 13. Directed by Harrison Fishman and Dylan Redford, “Neighbors” aims to bring out the world’s craziness by showcasing real-life conflicts over mundane topics between various neighbors and neighborhoods. At the moment,...
Let Colorado’s communities govern their own neighborhoods
By Jeff Bailey and Cindy Bailey Coloradans have always done things their own way. From how we manage our land to how we build our economies, the instinct to govern locally — to trust mayors, councils and commissioners over distant bureaucracies — is not a partisan position. It is a point of pride. When a […]
Eligibility questions spark calls to suspend Minnesota’s $100 million ‘promise’ to small businesses
5 INVESTIGATES found several Minnesota Promise grant recipients appear to be operating miles outside of eligible neighborhoods, and others that may not be operating at all.
Health care costs are Americans' top worry, a new poll finds
A new Gallup poll reveals health care access and affordability is Americans' top concern, surpassing the economy and inflation.
VHC Health development plan faces pushback at environmental meeting
A proposal for a new behavioral health center on S. Carlin Springs Road is facing pushback on environmental impacts and effects on the surrounding neighborhood. Misgivings about the 146-bed, 131,000-square-foot development proposal from VHC Health and Lifepoint Health made their way into discussions at the March 26 meeting of the county's Forestry & Natural Resources
‘Soaked and broken’: Owner of Enfoque Images devastated after her business building collapses
GEDDES, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — What was once a photography building has now partially collapsed. For Jacqueline Vidler, owner of Enfoque Images, when a neighbor calls, it’s usually not a good sign. “He said...
What now? State study weighs health impacts of Republic Steel in Canton
A new state study examines Canton Republic Steel's potential health effects on the community. Neighbors remain uncertain.
Houston East End underpass floods again, drivers stranded and businesses impacted
A flood-prone underpass in Houston’s East End is once again causing problems for drivers and businesses, with neighbors saying even light rain can make the road impassable.
Chicago travel mistakes I made as a first-time tourist
I spent two days in Chicago for the first time. I regretted exploring too many neighborhoods and visiting in the winter.
Austin home-based business rules could change under new pilot program
Austin is considering a pilot program to allow more home-based and “front yard” businesses, aiming to lower startup costs and help residents launch small ventures within their neighborhoods.
Austin weighs allowing front-yard businesses to help residents launch dreams from home
Austin is considering a pilot program to allow more home-based and “front yard” businesses, aiming to lower startup costs and help residents launch small ventures within their neighborhoods.
City of Gadsden breaks ground on Phase 5 of improving Gadsden Sports Park
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford says he grew up in the neighborhood and is proud to see the facility where it is today.
Protect Los Santos and Acquire New Law Enforcement Vehicles During the Latest Neighborhood Watch Event
Clean up the streets and assist residents across Los Santos and Blaine County during the new Neighborhood Watch Event in GTA Online.
ArchWell Health opens 4 new senior care clinics in Northeast Ohio
The Medicare Advantage-focused health provider will host grand openings throughout April in Cleveland Heights, Euclid and two Cleveland neighborhoods, bringing its regional total to nine centers.
Iran fires missiles at Israel and Gulf neighbors as Trump talks of winding down Mideast war
Iran responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s address to Americans on the war with new missile attacks targeting Israel and the Gulf Arab states
Yet another San Antonio business shutters in rapidly evolving part of town
The neighborhood's food and drink scene is in flux.
Firing Cop in Shooting, Did Mayor Yield to Politics?
When he peremptorily fired the Hartford police officer who shot and killed a mentally ill man who was walking through his neighborhood with a long knife and was refusing police […]
Walkable Neighborhoods Can Boost Physical Activity, Population Health
New research from Washington State University shows that small increases in neighborhood walkability could lead to substantial gains for a sedentary population, boosting individuals’ physical activity and ultimately improving their health.
The art of small-town politics
When we arrived in River Forest, the village board was dominated by a village president who had reigned from 1993-2009. An interregnum of four years ensued, followed by the current board president, in place since 2013. Ours is a small town next to a large town. River Forest has about 12,000 residents. Our neighbor to […]
Kansas City business owners oppose single-serve alcohol ban
Business owners are fighting back against a proposed ordinance that would ban single-serve alcohol sales in high-crime neighborhoods.
Neighboring businesses react to possible arson after Petersburg house fire
An arson investigation is underway after a large house fire in Petersburg Sunday afternoon.
Haleiwa open for business as North Shore storm recovery continues
While people are urged to stay away from impacted neighborhoods, local business leaders stressed that Haleiwa town is open and that respectful support can help the community recover.
As Trump Squeezes Cuba, U.S. Military Exists in a Bubble
The Navy base at Guantánamo Bay sparkles at night while neighbors across a Cuban minefield struggle in darkness driven by a Trump fuel embargo.
Silencer Central acquires vacant Wells Fargo building for future growth
A former Wells Fargo call center is off the market -- bought by its neighboring business for future growth.
Pitt commits $5M in new investments to city parks, neighborhood business corridors and public safety
The University’s most recent commitment builds on decades of collaboration and support between the City of Pittsburgh and its premier anchor institution.
Do good neighbors make good economies? Minnesota could be a test case
Economic studies strongly suggest that higher levels of trust can lead to increased commerce, promote financial innovation and even foster economic growth. Will the neighborly care and civic engagement in Minnesota during the Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge translate into economic resilience?
BUSINESS MONDAY: Spotlight on the NinjaFit Playground by Neighborhood Ninjas—coming to Lee this summer
Providing a “fun, free, safe and accessible space where community members of all ages can connect and engage in free, obstacle-based fitness and active lifestyles together.”
Hingham Schools Eye Business Curriculum Expansion as Class Size Concerns Mount
HINGHAM - March 23, 2026 - The Hingham School Committee moved to modernize its high school offerings Monday night, reviewing a comprehensive plan to expand the “small but mighty” Business Department while simultaneously grappling with data that places Hingham as an outlier in elementary class sizes. Director of Social Studies Andy Hoey presented a two-year program review that highlighted the department’s success in community partnerships but warned that high student demand is testing current staffing limits. Meanwhile, committee Chair Jen Benham presented independent research showing Hingham is the only benchmark district with second-grade classes hitting a 25-student cap, sparking a directive for the Policy Subcommittee to review class-size standards. Editors note: South Shore News is going paid in April, subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss a story. Reach out for group or organizational pricing. Subscribe The Full Story The meeting opened with a look into the future of Hingham High School’s (HHS) curriculum. Andy Hoey, who oversees the Business Department, presented the first formal program review for the department since 2009. [15:09] Hoey characterized the department as a vital elective hub that currently serves between 14% and 27% of the HHS student body in any given year. [31:31] “We are very proud of our business department here at Hingham High School... while we’re very proud of it, we are always striving to make improvements and enhancements.” [15:55] — Andy Hoey, Director of Social Studies A key highlight of the presentation was the announcement of a new AP Business with Personal Finance course launching next year, pending enrollment. [20:08] The review team found that while the program is “well-aligned” to national standards, it remains a high-school-only offering. Hoey outlined an action plan to explore “vertical articulation,” potentially introducing business or financial literacy units at the middle school level to fill a “gap” identified between fifth and eighth grade. [41:48] However, the department faces “smoke and mirrors” regarding student GPA, according to Hoey. Currently, most business courses are “unleveled” and do not count toward a student’s GPA, which survey data suggests may deter some students from enrolling. [28:15] The committee discussed the possibility of offering Honors or College Prep (CP) credit for advanced courses, such as investing or marketing, to better reflect their academic rigor. [38:27] The discussion took a sharp turn toward elementary education during an enrollment update. Superintendent Dr. Katie Roberts noted a net gain of four students mid-year, but it was Jen Benham’s “rabbit hole” data analysis that caught the committee’s attention. [50:35] Benham researched 13 benchmark towns—representing 34 elementary schools—and found that Hingham was the only district with a second-grade section reaching 25 students this year. [51:36] Benham’s findings suggested that while many districts lack formal class-size policies, Hingham’s current cap of 25 for second grade may be too high. “I think if we could at least have 23 at a cap for grade two,” Benham suggested, noting the importance of that grade level for literacy development. [53:09], [54:55] Dr. Roberts cautioned that smaller classes require more staff, which is a significant hurdle following a budget season where nine general education positions were cut across the district. [55:56] The committee also finalized the 2025 Town Report, which was updated to be more “student-centered” and highlight staff early in the document. [11:12] Additionally, a series of food service policies were approved to align with Massachusetts’ universal free school meal mandate, including new protocols for meal modifications due to allergies or religious needs. [59:23] Share Why It Matters The meeting underscored a tension between Hingham’s desire to offer elite, specialized programming and the foundational pressure of class sizes. The expansion of the Business Department—including potential Microsoft certifications and AP courses—aims to prepare students for a “real world” where credit scores and financial literacy are paramount. [46:20] However, the revelation that Hingham’s second-grade classes are larger than those in all neighboring benchmark towns suggests a potential strain on early education that could impact long-term student performance if not addressed by the Policy Subcommittee. Official Minutes & Data Key Motions & Votes Motion: To approve the Hingham Public Schools 2025 Town Report. [13:16] Vote: Unanimous (7-0) ([01:13:28]) Motion: To approve the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for summer counselor work regarding course placement. [57:33] Vote: Unanimous (7-0) ([57:50]) Motion: To approve Policy EFBA (School Food and Nutrition/Meal Modifications). [01:00:32] Vote: Unanimous (7-0) ([01:00:44]) Motion: To approve Policy EFC (Universal Free School Meals). [01:00:54] Vote: Unanimous (7-0) ([01:01:07]) Public Comment No members of the public spoke during the meeting or via the remote link. [01:02:30] What’s Next The Policy Subcommittee will take up the review of elementary class-size caps over the next year to determine if the Grade 2 limit should be lowered from 25 to 23. [52:18] The Business Department will monitor enrollment for the new AP Business course and continue exploring dual-enrollment partnerships with Quincy College. [38:13] Source Video: Harbor Media South Shore News is a reader-supported publication. 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Arizona fans pack Arcadia sports bar to watch Wildcats advance
Arizona fans filled a popular UofA sports bar in Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood to cheer on their Wildcats.
Why a retired Army officer sees Michigan as key to defense industry
Lt. Col. Misty Martin (Ret.), who is chair of an upcoming defense expo in Detroit, says 'every neighborhood in Michigan has someone who served.'
Broad Ripple welcomes new sports, entertainment venue
BROAD RIPPLE, Ind. — The Broad Ripple neighborhood will soon be home to another place where people can enjoy fun and food. Stick & Hack Entertainment is opening its second location at 46th Stre…
Lithia sports facility proposal sparks heated zoning battle between neighbors, supporters
A growing dispute is unfolding in Lithia, where a proposed private youth sports complex is drawing strong reactions from both neighbors and supporters.
The Family Van brings free health screenings to Boston neighborhoods
With barriers rising in health care access, mobile clinic fills critical gaps
Linden Entertainment Signs ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’, ‘Tow’ Director Stephanie Laing
EXCLUSIVE: Linden Entertainment has signed Emmy-winning director, writer, and producer Stephanie Laing for management. Laing is coming off the theatrical release of her new film, Tow, a comedy-drama s...
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. 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