SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY

Search headlines

Find the stories shaping the conversation.

Search mode
Refine results
Active filters Keyword All time

Results for " ram " 14,047 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle

California students post gains in math, science and English in 2025-26

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California students made gains across key academic and success measures during the 2025-26 school year, with test scores rising in English, math and science while the statewide graduation rate reached a record high of 87.9 percent. For the first time, the state released assessment results and California School Dashboard data together to give families and educators a more complete picture of student performance.English language arts scores increased 0.5 percentage points to 49.3 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced, while math scores rose 1.1 percentage points to 38.4 percent. Science showed the strongest improvement, jumping 3.3 percentage points to 36 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced.The statewide chronic absenteeism rate dropped 1.1 percentage points to 18.3 percent. The suspension rate declined to 2.8 percent, marking the third consecutive year of improvement."At a time when California continues to focus on accelerating learning and closing opportunity gaps, these results provide important evidence that our sustained investments are making a difference," Gov. Gavin Newsom said. "The continued progress we are seeing is a testament to the hard work of students, families and educators across the state—and we will continue working to build on these gains."The percentage of students prepared for college and career increased to 55.2 percent, up 2 percentage points from the previous year. More than 54 percent of graduates completed coursework required for admission to University of California and California State University systems, an increase of 0.9 percentage points."California has made important strides in expanding student supports and opportunities, but the pace of academic improvement reminds us that our work is far from finished," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said.Eighth grade students posted the strongest score trends in both English language arts and math. Science performance improved across all tested grades, with the strongest gains at the high school level.African American students demonstrated larger-than-average improvements across English, math and science. Hispanic or Latino students showed larger-than-average improvements in English and math, with positive math score trends across all grades.Students who were socioeconomically disadvantaged made gains across all 3 subjects, including larger-than-average improvements in English and math. Students who were homeless continued to demonstrate gains across grades, with particularly strong improvements in math."We are encouraged to see students making gains across all 3 major assessments and are especially encouraged by the progress of African American students, Hispanic or Latino students, socioeconomically disadvantaged students and homeless youth," said Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the California State Board of Education.The progress comes as California's public school system undergoes significant demographic change. Statewide school enrollment declined to approximately 5.73 million students in 2025-26, nearly 500-thousand fewer students over the past decade.The number of students with disabilities increased approximately 25 percent over the same period, from about 680-thousand to more than 850-thousand students. Graduation rates increased across nearly all student groups, including notable increases for American Indian or Alaskan Native students at 4.3 percentage points and students with disabilities at 3.7 percentage points.In Downey Unified School District, the rate of students demonstrating proficient or advanced grade-level knowledge increased by 2.1 percentage points in English, 2.8 percentage points in math and 4.7 percentage points in science. The district aligned graduation requirements with college admission expectations and invested in inclusive special education practices, expanded career technical education and expanded learning opportunities."The gains Downey Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of years of focused, consistent work across the district," Superintendent Roger Brossmer said.In Exeter Unified School District, proficiency rates increased by 4.6 percentage points in English, 2.3 percentage points in math and 3.6 percentage points in science. The district placed a strong focus on phonics and the science of reading, particularly in kindergarten through second grade."The gains Exeter Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of having great people who are focused on the right work, and great students who want to do well," Superintendent Melanie Dorough said.Union Elementary School District saw proficiency rates increase by 1.5 percentage points in English, 2 percentage points in math and 4 percentage points in science. Teachers regularly analyze state and local assessment data to guide instruction, supported by strong core instruction and early literacy strategies."Union Elementary School District's achievement gains reflect a focused, data-driven approach to meeting the needs of every student while fostering a strong sense of belonging, safety and connection," Superintendent Carrie Andrews said.The California Department of Education is examining local results to better understand strategies and conditions associated with stronger student outcomes. The state has made significant investments in recent years, including literacy and math coaching, tutoring, expanded learning opportunities, community schools and universal transitional kindergarten.

actionnewsnow.com logo
Oct 15 • 1:54 PM EDT • Science • actionnewsnow.com
Soccer Coach Avoids Eye Contact With Reporter During Awkward Interview: He Was ‘Fighting for His Life’

A soccer coach’s awkward postgame interview has become an unexpected internet sensation. David Oulehla — head coach of Czech soccer team FK Viagem Ústí nad Labem — is getting a lot of attention over his exchange with a female reporter. In a video shared on the team’s Instagram account, Oulehla, 43, appeared determined to avoid […]

sports.yahoo.com logo
Oct 15 • 1:15 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Sport Partnerships are Shaping the Future of Inclusive Sport

The 2025 Sport Partnerships Survey: The Partnership Effect is live. Check out all the information on Special Olympics International, its regional and national programs’ sport federation partnerships, and their growth helping to expand inclusive sport for all.

specialolympics.org logo
Oct 15 • 1:02 PM EDT • Sports • specialolympics.org
Kalamazoo County health officials say, "get your flu shot... as soon as possible"

WWMT-TV Newschannel 3 provides local news, weather forecasts, notices of events and entertainment programming for Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, South Haven, Paw Paw, Portage, Otsego, Texas Township, Oshtemo, Plainwell, Allegan, Holland, Saugatuck, Holland, Wayland, Kentwood, Middleville, Hastings, Marshall, Three Rivers, Sturgis, Constantine, Coldwater, Albion, Wyoming, Hudsonville, Allendale, Byron Center, Hudsonville, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Sparta, Rockford, Belding, Greenville, Ionia, Cedar Springs and their surrounding areas.

wwmt.com logo
Oct 15 • 12:53 PM EDT • Health • wwmt.com
USA-HEALTH/FRAUD

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a press conference announcing new actions aimed at combating fraud, waste and abuse across federal health programs

captimes.com logo
Oct 15 • 12:17 PM EDT • Health • captimes.com
Connections Health Solutions Files on Behavioral Health Crisis

Connections Health Solutions' Q3 2026 filing covers behavioral health reform and crisis care access. Read what the filing reveals and why it matters now.

legis1.com logo
Oct 15 • 12:06 PM EDT • Health • legis1.com
Microsoft Says It Made Windows 11 Zippier, Especially On PCs With Less RAM

The whole RAM price thing is partly Microsoft's fault so it's the least it can do.

engadget.com logo
Oct 15 • 12:01 PM EDT • Technology • engadget.com
Wildhorse Resort & Casino Selects Seattle Entertainment Group to Lead Entertainment Strategy and Concert Programming

/PRNewswire/ -- Key Expansion & Entertainment Highlights 325% increase in concert capacity, from approximately 400 to over 1,700 guests More than 410% increase...

prnewswire.com logo
Oct 15 • 12:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • prnewswire.com
Apple Lobbying Report Covers Trade and Public Health

Apple's Q3 2026 lobbying report covers IP, public health, and trade issues amid a pending ITC patent dispute. Read the full analysis to see what it means.

legis1.com logo
Oct 15 • 11:31 AM EDT • Health • legis1.com
😐 Neutral (0%)
wow
100%
Marsh targets more cost cuts; reports revenue increase

Marsh on Thursday increased its annual cost savings target under its Thrive restructuring program by 50% to $600 million, as the brokerage reported higher third-quarter revenue and profit despite a 6%

businessinsurance.com logo
Oct 15 • 11:21 AM EDT • Business • businessinsurance.com
🙂 Positive (40%)
La Salle University announces new Sports Communication degree program

The new program will prepare students for rapidly evolving careers across the various sectors of sports media headquarters in the country’s fifth largest sports media market.

lasalle.edu logo
Oct 15 • 11:14 AM EDT • Sports • lasalle.edu
😐 Neutral (0%)
love
100%
Samuel L. Jackson's 'Tulsa King' spinoff 'Frisco King' gets premiere date — and Sylvester Stallone is back

Taylor Sheridan's new Paramount+ crime drama premieres Dec. 18, with Jackson reprising his role as hitman Russell Lee Washington Jr.

yahoo.com logo
Oct 15 • 11:08 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Scientists discover an ancient shipwreck dating to when the Great Pyramid was built

The wreck was found with relatively intact cargo on the seabed off the coast of Türkiye and is believed to be between 4,400 and 4,700 years old

scientificamerican.com logo
Oct 15 • 11:00 AM EDT • Science • scientificamerican.com
Toyota and espnW Recognize 11th Class of Everyday Heroes at the 2026 espnW: Women + Sports Summit

PLANO, Texas (Oct. 15, 2026) – Toyota honored the 11th class of Toyota Everyday Heroes last night at the 2026 espnW: Women + Sports Summit in Ojai, California. Toyota’s Everyday Heroes program recognizes individuals making a difference for women and girls in their local communities through sports.

pressroom.toyota.com logo
Oct 15 • 10:58 AM EDT • Sports • pressroom.toyota.com
North Raleigh business closes after car with dogs inside crashes into building

The business announced on Instagram that they will close indefinitely following damages.

newsobserver.com logo
Oct 15 • 10:57 AM EDT • Business • newsobserver.com
Sacramento Kings season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27
sports.yahoo.com logo
Oct 15 • 10:50 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Cleveland State University receives $10M gift to reshape business education

The gift will fund a comprehensive overhaul of all undergraduate and graduate business programs to reflect new developments and emerging technologies in the field.

spectrumnews1.com logo
Oct 15 • 10:44 AM EDT • Business • spectrumnews1.com
Americans with disabilities worry over cuts to major health survey

NEW YORK • The federal government is planning to dramatically shrink its most influential health survey, and some researchers worry that the changes will underestimate how many Americans are disabled. At least half the survey questions could be axed. The cost-saving change is part of an ongoing effort to slim down the 69-year-old National Health […]

denvergazette.com logo
Oct 15 • 10:22 AM EDT • Health • denvergazette.com
Clinton Policy Institute outlines maternal health solutions for states

Health Care Clinton Policy Institute outlines maternal health solutions for states It’s the first major report from the project, which launched in July to foster nonpartisan policies to improve the wellbeing of children and families. Stephanie Akin 10:00 AM, Oct 15, 2026 Dr. Jacob Lenz performs an ultrasound at the Oklahoma State University obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Tulsa, Okla., on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon) The Clinton Policy Institute is calling on states to lead efforts to curb maternal mortality, releasing a 61-page playbook Thursday highlighting successful policies that could be adopted nationwide. The playbook is the first major report from the Clinton Foundation’s project, which launched in July to foster nonpartisan state and local policies to improve the wellbeing of children and families. “Eighty percent of maternal deaths are preventable, and we know what works,” CPI Chair Jennifer Klein said. “The solutions are well established and evidence-based.” CPI’s mission is to convene political leaders from both parties, policy experts, state officials and other stakeholders to explore solutions to longstanding problems. “What we aim to do is bring together people who are deeply engaged, but may not be meeting together in the same room,” Klein said, noting that state policymakers might not always be aware of what their peers are doing in other states. In May, CPI brought together lawmakers from Virginia and Pennsylvania, two of the 14 states that have passed bipartisan maternal health “Momnibus” packages modeled after a comprehensive federal proposal that has repeatedly stalled, called the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. Other participants included Dr. Mona Hanna, founder of Rx Kids, a Michigan program that provides direct cash allowances to pregnant women and infants. Pennsylvania Rep. Morgan Cephas, who was part of the group, said she learned about funding opportunities she hadn’t come across during her decade in the Legislature. “As legislators we can issue grants, we can pass legislation, we can move policy, but we want to ensure that funding opportunities and programs that are tackling this issue are sustainable,” Cephas said. The playbook outlines broad areas where state policy can make a difference, such as allowing Medicaid to pay for doulas and remote patient monitoring, and using federal and private grant funding to pay for home visits to pregnant and postpartum women. For each category, it highlights innovative programs that can serve as models, with examples of specific actions state lawmakers and governors’ offices can take. Those include the Rx Kids model, which gets funding from the Michigan state budget; Pennsylvania’s Healthy Moms Vibrant Futures strategic action plan, emphasizing equity-centered maternal care, regional collaboration, Medicaid innovation, and workforce development that was launched this year with more than 160 stakeholders; and Kansas’s Bridging Plan, which reserves three slots and provides at least $26,000 in loan forgiveness for obstetric residents who commit to practicing in rural or underserved communities for 36 months. CPI emphasizes that its work is nonpartisan. Klein, the director of the White House Gender Policy Council under former President Joe Biden, acknowledged that CPI also takes positions on abortion, Medicaid funding, and the need to address the economic and social drivers of poor health, which might rankle some conservatives. “We don’t shy away from talking about those things that we think are part and parcel of the maternal health crisis in this country,” Klein said. “That said, there are so many policies that are both evidence-based and have been tried successfully in both red and blue states, and people can see that they can have real impact.” She pointed to the federal option to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months that was made available during the Biden administration and has since been adopted by every state but Arkansas. Other initiatives embraced across party lines include Medicaid coverage for midwives and doulas, as well as “bundled” payments for prenatal and postpartum care. That alternative payment model, pioneered in states such as Arkansas, Colorado and Tennessee, incentivizes fixed fees to cover all healthcare services associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Advocates say it promotes more coordination among caregivers, discourages unnecessary interventions, and expands postpartum support. In addition to maternal health, the initiative is also focused on addressing family economic security, children’s well-being, and democracy and civic resilience.

pluribusnews.com logo
Oct 15 • 10:00 AM EDT • Health • pluribusnews.com
Ohio Appeals court rules EdChoice private school voucher system unconstitutional

An Ohio appellate court has ruled that the EdChoice voucher program, which uses taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition, is unconstitutional.

news5cleveland.com logo
Oct 15 • 9:48 AM EDT • Politics • news5cleveland.com
Microsoft says Windows 11 is now ‘more responsive’ and runs better on 8GB of RAM

A lot of the speed improvements are thanks to smarter ways to manage memory and PC resources.

theverge.com logo
Oct 15 • 9:41 AM EDT • Technology • theverge.com
Free Lamanda Park Workshop Hands Would-Be Business Owners a 17-Item Checklist

Starting a business in Pasadena comes with a list: a name, a legal structure, insurance, financing and a city business license that has to be renewed every year. A two-hour workshop Saturday at a Pasadena branch library aims to put that list in order. SCORE Los Angeles, the nonprofit presenting the session, says attendees will leave with a 17-item checklist of steps for getting a business established. The Pasadena Public Library is sponsoring the workshop, according to SCORE. The listing says the session is meant for people thinking about starting a business and for those who have recently started one. SCORE wrote that the program “cuts through the confusion and chaos” of figuring out what it takes to start a business. According to the listing, it covers the legal requirements for a start-up business, along with other practical steps worth taking. Beyond those basics, the session covers taxes, the elements of a business plan and marketing, according to the listing. It also weighs the pros and cons of different legal structures, examines the major causes of business failure and offers ways to avoid legal problems. Attendees will hear how SCORE can help new businesses succeed. Some of the rules a new owner must follow are local. The city’s Department of Finance requires that annual license to be displayed prominently at the place of business. Businesses that sell tangible goods also need a state seller’s permit showing their Pasadena address, and any business that prepares or sells food needs approval from the Pasadena Health Department, according to the department. Even charities are covered: “Charitable non-profit businesses are required to obtain a business license,” the department’s guidance says. SCORE lists two instructors for the workshop. Dick Mader, a SCORE mentor who serves on the chapter’s board of directors, started a media distribution

pasadenanow.com logo
Oct 15 • 9:22 AM EDT • Business • pasadenanow.com
'AI sandboxes' are all the rage. Advocates scramble to control their future

In this edition of STAT's Health Tech newsletter: The groups vying to shape regulations that'd govern state AI sandboxes, and more.

statnews.com logo
Oct 15 • 9:14 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
😐 Neutral (0%)
Elevance Health Foundation launched a prize program for patient safety initiatives. Here's why

The Elevance Health Foundation has launched a new prize program aimed at supporting solutions aimed at improving patient safety, with the first crop of winners targeting challenges like health lite | The Elevance Health Foundation has launched a new prize program aimed at supporting solutions aimed at improving patient safety, with the first crop of winners targeting challenges like health literacy, fall prevention and medication errors.

fiercehealthcare.com logo
Oct 15 • 9:10 AM EDT • Health • fiercehealthcare.com
Why the GOP’s voter fraud messaging may backfire

GOP allegations that voter fraud is rampant in the US may drive more Democrats – and fewer Republicans – to the polls in November.

cbs19news.com logo
Oct 15 • 9:04 AM EDT • Politics • cbs19news.com
QuEra Scientists Named Co-Principal Investigators on Three of Nine Teams in Department of Energy's Quantum Chemistry Program, Now Underway

/PRNewswire/ -- QuEra Computing, the leader in quantum computing, today announced that its scientists will work with three of the nine teams selected for the...

prnewswire.com logo
Oct 15 • 9:00 AM EDT • Science • prnewswire.com
Social media detox research leaves youth mental health questions unresolved, review finds

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, are used daily by many adults and young people worldwide. Recently, these platforms have become the focus of numerous debates, with some ...

medicalxpress.com logo
Oct 15 • 8:20 AM EDT • Health • medicalxpress.com
The Politics of Heat, Homes, and Lobster Boats.

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—The candidates’ forum focusing on House District 15 and incumbent Holly Eaton and Clifford Noyes last week spent a lot of time on the candidates’ thought of heating, communication with constituents, property taxes, education costs, and other issues. It also was a time for the community to ask their own questions and see two candidates up close and personal at the Southwest Harbor Fire Department firehouse. Jim Vallette organized the hour-long event, which was moderated by Carrie Jones of the Bar Harbor Story. Ken Rozsahegyi provided technical support for the congenial event. House District 15 serves Brooklin, Deer Isle, Eagle Island Township, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, Marshall Island, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Swan's Island, Tremont, and Vinalhaven. Jones advised as she began the question and answer part of the event, ”Treat everyone here like they are going to be the ones who might give you a ride in a rainstorm, pull your pet out of a burning building, or be the one grading your kids’ papers at school, okay?” She continued. “That’s it. Tonight isn’t meant to be a gotcha debate. The goal is to give people in the district a chance to get to know both candidates, hear what they care about, and understand what they’d actually try to accomplish in Augusta.” The questions and discussion throughout were kind. Eaton currently serves in the position. She’s a Democrat from Deer Isle, raised in a fishing family and has worked in nonprofits and volunteered for her school board. Noyes is unenrolled (politically) and from Southwest Harbor and currently a school board member, self employed as a mason. He focused on fiscal issues throughout the forum. Eventually, at Jones’ prompting, the candidates played “Rock, Paper, Scissors” for who would go first for their closing statements. Noyes used the opportunity to urge others to head to the ballot. “Whether you vote for me or Holly, it’s important that people vote,” Noyes said. He hoped the voter turnout in the district would be over 35 percent because that would mean people were truly engaged. Eaton stressed that she’s a Democrat, but in Augusta, her role isn’t about party. “I am a Democrat, but when I go to Augusta, I am there to represent the people of District 15. I want people to feel as though I’m accessible, that I’m responsive, and that I show up for the district,” Eaton said. Being there for others was vital, she explained. “When something comes before me in Augusta, I try to look at it through the lens of the people and the communities that I represent. How will this affect the people who live here? Does it make it easier or harder to raise a family here, to operate a small business, to work on the water, to afford a home, to keep our schools open, or provide the essential services our communities depend on?” Eaton said. Noyes spoke about fiscal responsibility and about the state being more responsive to communities and the ideas that come from them. “I feel that we desperately need to restore some fiscal sanity, a little bit. So when the legislature meets again,” Noyes said, “it could be critical for Maine residents that we don’t keep digging this hole that we’re in financially and keep raising our taxes so the struggling families struggle even more.” The two answered a series of questions from Jones, then answered questions from the audience and participants via Zoom. Jones asked what they heard the most from people about what was making their lives hard and what can the legislature in Augusta do it about those issues. Both spoke to concerns about heating oil costs. Noyes spoke to the three H’s: health, home, and heat. Eaton and Noyes spoke to the burdens of families with lower incomes, with Eaton mentioning LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). They both were in favor of free community college and trade programs. They both supported the working waterfront. Both said that data centers—such as the one proposed in Eastport, which is out of the district—should be a local decision, but neither were in favor of it. The working waterfront was supported by both. Eaton’s served on the Maine Marine Resource Committee in the legislature. She advocated a diversity of fishing resources and less of a reliance on lobstering. Shrimp, she hoped, would make a comeback. Noyes worried about out-of-state pressure on the lobstering industry, also spoke of shrimp harvesting timings, and said he supported the lobstering industry. QUICK NOTE Carrie Jones is, obviously, the co-founder of the Bar Harbor Story, which made us have a bit of a hard time putting out this story and thinking it through and how to present it. We ended up with this article. The debate in its entirety is below, many thanks to Ken and Jim for making it publicly available. UPCOMING AND PAST EVENTS The following events are or were organized by the League of Women Voters Downeast. DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT 13 Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM Candidate Forum: House District 13 125 State St , Ellsworth Featuring candidates Michael Cunningham (D) and Russell White (R), moderated by Cyndi Wood, managing editor of the Ellsworth American. DEMOCRACY FORUM Friday, Oct 16, 2026 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Democracy Forum — Election 2026: What’s on Your Ballot RECENT PRESS RELEASES AND BRIEFS To see all the press releases, click here. To see our news, click here. For the full archive, click here. All of these are on our dedicated website. [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ Feeling Stressed? Kids’ Corner Invites Parents, Educators, and Caregivers to Rediscover the Joy with National Speaker Raelene Ostberg Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ Mainely Meat’s Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness is October 18! Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ Conners Emerson School Announces Public Surplus Property Sale Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ Planting the Writer’s Garden 12:15 AM ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) [ Artist Maria de los Angeles explores migration and belonging in COA public lecture 12:19 AM ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment

barharborstory.substack.com logo
Oct 15 • 8:18 AM EDT • Politics • barharborstory.substack.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (13%)
love
37%
ahah
34%
wow
29%
NVIDIA brings DLSS 4.5 controls to GeForce NOW, Ultimate members get up to 4X Frame Generation

GeForce NOW subscribers can now adjust DLSS 4.5 settings on supported cloud games. Ultimate members get additional controls through RTX 5080 cloud systems.

videocardz.com logo
Oct 15 • 8:11 AM EDT • Technology • videocardz.com
Computational Models as Liminal Models in Neuroscience, a Cognitive Science Speaker Series Presentation | Events

Speaker: Danielle Williams, Ph.D. Title: Computational Models as Liminal Models in Neuroscience Short Bio: Danielle is a philosopher of mind and science whose research examines the role of computation in our theories and explanations of the mind and brain. Her work brings together philosophy of mind, cognitive science, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, with particular interests in computational theories of mind, computational modeling, and the relationship between different explanatory and modeling strategies in the mind sciences. She also investigates philosophical questions raised by contemporary AI, including the nature of opacity in computational models and its implications for explanation in cognitive science. Alongside this work, she is a historian of cognitive science and AI, examining how the development of computer technology has shaped our conceptions and models of the mind and brain. Abstract: Scientists rely on various types of models to make sense of their phenomena of interest. This has led philosophers to take up a range of semantic, ontological, and epistemological questions about how models represent, what kinds of things models are, what we learn from models, and how they explain. One type of model that has been of particular interest to philosophers is the computational model. Computational models are commonplace in the mind sciences in general and neuroscience in particular, with many asking how computational modeling can help us understand the nervous system and its contribution to cognition and behavior. These questions are particularly pressing in neuroscience, as computational models have become a dominant framework for making sense of cognition. Thus, old questions about model-based science have re-emerged within the context of neuroscience, with many philosophers looking to established frameworks to understand how computational models represent, explain, and contribute to theory development in neuroscience. These established frameworks, however, characterize computational models as a homogeneous type which cannot capture actual modeling practices in neuroscience. In this talk, I argue that computational models in neuroscience are best typed as a kind of liminal model, a type I introduce to capture how the status of a computational model is determined by the epistemic context in which it is deployed. Indeed, the category to which a computational model belongs shifts according to the role it plays within a given context. ASL-English interpreters have been requested. Light refreshments will be provided.

rit.edu logo
Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • rit.edu
Companies pledge free software and computing for AI in science

The European Commission has announced that a group of companies and foundations will offer free services, such as software or access to supercomputers, to European scientists using AI in their research.Unveiled on October 15 at a conference in Dublin, the initiative is the latest step by the Commission to try to help researchers use the technology. Scientists have used forms of AI, such as machine learning, for decades. But advances in deep learning in the past decade, and the wider interest in large language models since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, have spurred governments to invest in new AI tools that could help the scientific process.In July, the US announced it is spending $5 billion on the Genesis Mission, which it describes as a “national effort to harness AI for science,” funding 278 projects across areas such as autonomous labs or new AI tools in astronomy. The Commission has also identified AI in science as a priority, but the €107 million it pledged from Horizon Europe in 2025 does not come close to US spending levels. That said, the vast majority of public research spending in the EU comes from national funds. Today’s announcement at the European AI in Science Summit doesn’t commit any new public money. Instead, it launches the AI in Science Enablers Initiative, a set of voluntary contributions from companies and foundations. The idea is that the companies also benefit by getting access to scientific ecosystems, and feedback on how their tools work. Google, for example, has put up €3 million of cloud computing credits to European researchers. The Novo Nordisk Foundation intends to make its supercomputer, Gefion, available to European researchers, according to the Commission statement. The chipmaker Nvidia said it would provide access to tools, compute, training and collaborative projects.The publisher Elsevier also offered complementary licenses to some of its AI tools, plus AI training for PhD, postdoctoral and master’s students. The French AI firm Mistral will provide the European research community with access to its open-weight models, Vibe seats and application programming interface credits, according to the Commission’s statement. Vibe is one of the firm’s chatbot models. The idea is that more firms and foundations will come on board in the future as the initiative grows.

sciencebusiness.net logo
Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Augustana Expands Government & International Affairs Department With Four Specialized Majors

In Fall 2026, the Augustana University Government & International Affairs Department expanded its degree program offerings to include more specialized majors — giving students focused pathways aligned with their interests, workforce demands and graduate school preparation.

augie.edu logo
Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • augie.edu
Is the EU research budget actually increasing?

Is a Horizon Europe budget of €158 billion a 10% cut or a significant increase to the EU’s support for research and innovation? What would seem like a question of fact has divided opinion in Brussels since the Irish presidency of the EU Council presented its negotiation box on October 10. The answer depends on factors such as how you adjust for inflation, whether you account for increases in overall EU wealth and if you care about absolute or proportional figures. The €158 billion budget in current prices, proposed by the Irish presidency of the EU Council, was quickly criticised by university lobbies and rejected by the high-level expert group led by former Portuguese science minister Manuel Heitor. It was also decried by the four pro-European political groups in the European Parliament. “How can Europe close its competitiveness gap while cutting the European Competitiveness Fund by 13% and Horizon Europe by nearly 10%?” asked a joint statement by the European People’s Party (EPP), Renew Europe, the Socialists and Democrats and the Greens/European Free Alliance. Together, these parties hold 63% of seats in the Parliament.In stark contrast, Irish foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee said that the proposal “significantly increases investment in competitiveness, research and innovation,” Meanwhile, a presidency press release said that, compared to the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the proposal would “double the volume of competitiveness related programmes.” So, who is right? That depends on how you make the calculation.Compared to the Commission figure or the previous budget?The first thing to notice is the difference in baselines. When the MEPs say the Irish presidency will cut Horizon Europe by “nearly 10%” they are using the European Commission proposal for the MFF from July 2025, which allocated €175 billion in current prices to Horizon Europe. However, when the Irish foreign affairs minister said the research and competitiveness budget is increasing significantly, she is comparing it to the 2021-27 MFF, which had a Horizon Europe budget of €84.9 billion in 2018 prices.Her point holds when accounting for inflation. Applying a 2% annual inflation rate, the calculation method used by the Commission, the 2021-27 Horizon Europe would have a budget of €97.5 billion in 2025 prices. In comparison, the Irish presidency’s €158 billion figure in current prices translates to €140 billion in 2025 prices. Does the ECF count?But there is more to the dispute. In its statements, the Irish presidency lumped the research budget in with the overall budget for competitiveness. The Parliament statement, however, kept the two separate. This matters because the next MFF includes plans to add a new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) to fund programmes meant to boost the continent's competitiveness. The Irish negotiating box allocated €245 billion in current prices to this programme.When this is added to the €158 billion for Horizon Europe, as well as programmes such as the EU education programme Erasmus+, the total for “competitiveness, prosperity and security” in the Irish proposal becomes €514 billion in current prices. But it is still uncertain how big a share of this competitiveness budget would go to research. The Commission proposal of July 2025 for the MFF included clear links between the ECF and Horizon Europe, indicating some ECF money will go to research. At the same time, the structure of the ECF is still being negotiated, and a substantial part of its budget is expected to support non-research activities such as defence manufacturing, decarbonisation and digital infrastructure. Related articlesCouncil floats 9.6% budget cut to next Horizon EuropeResearch community to appeal to national governments over planned EU budget cutEU own resources ‘essential’ for future research budget, says leading MEPSo, it is by looking at competitiveness rather than research, or combining the two, that the Irish presidency can claim that its proposed budget will significantly increase investment in competitiveness, research and innovation.According to the Irish presidency proposal, Horizon Europe and other competitiveness-related programmes in the current multiannual budget received €221 billion in current prices. However, since this money is being distributed from 2021 to 2027, it is not directly comparable to the €514 billion in current prices which will be distributed from 2028 to 2034.Research as a proportion of the MFFBut the relative rise in competitiveness-related programmes points to another important distinction: whether you look at the research budget in absolute terms or as a share of the overall MFF. Here, too, the size of the research budget has risen, although only slightly. In the 2021-27 MFF, Horizon Europe accounted for 7% of the total budget. In the Irish presidency’s proposal, it amounts to 8.7%. The share for the total competitiveness envelope went from 17.7% in the current MFF to 28.1% in the Irish presidency proposal.This proportional share may seem irrelevant to universities looking for research funding, but it is becoming significant as budget negotiations between the Parliament, the Commission and the Council begin. On October 2, a group of 17 southern and eastern European countries sent out a statement calling for the EU agriculture and cohesion budgets to be protected. The Parliament’s co-rapporteur on the budget, Siegfried Mureșan of the EPP, has also said that the research envelope is likely to be cut disproportionately as the budget is slimmed down during negotiations.

sciencebusiness.net logo
Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Why we need a more connected sustainability reporting system

Aligned, interoperable sustainability-reporting frameworks and consistent data can help businesses better manage risks and build long-term resilience.

weforum.org logo
Oct 15 • 7:58 AM EDT • Business • weforum.org
QPR 4-1 Derby

QPR and Derby County fans give their views after Rangers beat the Rams 4-1 in the Championship.

sports.yahoo.com logo
Oct 15 • 6:30 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
😐 Neutral (0%)
Va. lawmakers, Spanberger grapple with loss of federal healthcare funds for trans youth

Federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program money can no longer be used for certain gender-affirming care to young people in Virginia and other states, after a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule took effect on Oct. 13.

virginiamercury.com logo
Oct 15 • 5:28 AM EDT • Health • virginiamercury.com
Lakeland receives $1 million to boost science, health care learning

A $1 million estate gift to Lakeland University will fund science scholarships and expand science and health care programs.

sheboyganpress.com logo
Oct 15 • 5:12 AM EDT • Science • sheboyganpress.com
Louisiana opens enrollment for 274,000 Medicaid recipients who must switch plans

Healthy Blue, offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana and Elevance Health, is pulling out of Louisiana’s Medicaid program at the end of the year.

lailluminator.com logo
Oct 15 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • lailluminator.com
The secret to learning from failure may be what you do next

The timing and framing of failure can be critical for future success. A setback, says one researcher, can actually propel a person forward.

washingtonpost.com logo
Oct 15 • 5:00 AM EDT • Science • washingtonpost.com
Pumpkins aplenty: HCM carving contest raises money for accessibility programs

HUNTINGTON — The Huntington Children’s Museum hosted a Pumpkin Carving Contest and fundraiser Tuesday evening outside of The Market.

herald-dispatch.com logo
Oct 15 • 5:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • herald-dispatch.com
Art Hounds: St. Paul Art Crawl, dreamlike ceramics and a mental health doc

The Art Hounds recommend the St. Paul Art Crawl, a retrospective of Jim Grittner’s ceramics in Duluth and a documentary screening in Fergus Falls about Minnesota’s mental health institutions.

mprnews.org logo
Oct 15 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • mprnews.org
Anthony Scaramucci on his book and why he thinks these ‘catastrophic’ decisions led to the rise of Trump
cnn.com logo
Oct 15 • 3:09 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
How did political campaigns get so expensive?

The 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching, and it’s gearing up to be the most expensive election in American history. So how did we get here, where every election feels more expensive than the last? Today on the show, we’re exploring what’s causing the flood of money into our politics. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen –Bad economics, smart politics –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR AppConnect with The Indicator from Planet Money–The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. –Instagram, TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch, and other merch at the NPR Shop!Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

npr.org logo
Oct 15 • 3:00 AM EDT • Politics • npr.org
High-Signal Publisher
Stephanie Mills blasts Lady Gaga as ‘culture vulture,’ says, ‘You owe me an apology’

Stephanie Mills recalls a meeting with Lady Gaga, whom the Grammy-winning R&B singer says lost her ‘admiration,’ calling the pop star a ‘culture vulture.’

ew.com logo
Oct 15 • 2:06 AM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com
Geopolitical disruption is moving faster than insurance programs

As clients reroute supply chains and change suppliers, coverage gaps are widening

insurancebusinessmag.com logo
Oct 15 • 1:18 AM EDT • Business • insurancebusinessmag.com
Trump says those who leak military plans should be shot

At a rally in Arizona, the president dramatically escalated his attacks on news gathering and those willing to speak to the press.

seattletimes.com logo
Oct 14 • 11:58 PM EDT • Politics • seattletimes.com
Judge orders Benson student to remain in mental health facility, for now

Wednesday marked the third hearing to decide whether the student should remain at a mental health facility or be transferred to a juvenile detention center. But it saw a dramatic last-second reversal, with the student only minutes away from being taken into custody to a local detention center.

opb.org logo
Oct 14 • 11:30 PM EDT • Health • opb.org
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (0%)
wow
52%
ahah
48%
Ex-Trump aide: Katie Zacharia ‘not qualified for the job’
cnn.com logo
Oct 14 • 10:51 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
😐 Neutral (0%)
Fairfax County seeks to cut red tape for local businesses facing hurdles

Fairfax County leaders are exploring ways to streamline bureaucratic processes and cut red tape for local businesses.

fox5dc.com logo
Oct 14 • 10:47 PM EDT • Business • fox5dc.com
😐 Neutral (1%)
ahah
73%
wow
27%
Spencer Cox Talks Polarization, Outrage Politics, and the Future of Bipartisanship at IOP

Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah.) spoke to Institute of Politics (IOP) Founding Director David Axelrod about his efforts to promote collaboration and debate across party lines at International House on Monday. This past year, Cox published Off Ramp: How To Be A Peacemaker In An Age Of Contempt, a book outlining his blueprint for depolarization in...

chicagomaroon.com logo
Oct 14 • 10:42 PM EDT • Politics • chicagomaroon.com
Madera Flea Market vendors report sharp drop in business amid fears over ICE activity

Vendors at the Madera Flea Market say business has dropped dramatically in recent weeks as fears surround a reported increase in ICE activity.

abc30.com logo
Oct 14 • 9:44 PM EDT • Business • abc30.com
😐 Neutral (14%)
Bucs' Veteran Credits Bowles for Keeping Things Together

Amid a rocky start and rampant outside noise, Alex Anzalone reveals how Todd Bowles reshaped the locker room mindset to spark a season-saving upset over the Cowboys.

sports.yahoo.com logo
Oct 14 • 9:00 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
😐 Neutral (0%)
Rams LB Nate Landman was limited in Wednesday's practice
sports.yahoo.com logo
Oct 14 • 8:44 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Alan Mandell appreciation: The heart of L.A. theater and a friend

Alan Mandell, an award-winning actor, arts patron and arts administrator, was best known for co-founding the San Quentin Drama Workshop and interpreting the plays of Samuel Beckett.

latimes.com logo
Oct 14 • 8:29 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Ex-Trump aide: Katie Zacharia ‘not qualified for the job’

Former Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci tells CNN’s Elex Michaelson he doesn’t think White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is ready for the job.

cnn.com logo
Oct 14 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Applications open for Hurricane Lowell business recovery grants

The Kauai Hurricane Lowell program will offer one-time grants of $5K or $10K to eligible non-agricultural small businesses and nonprofits.

hawaiinewsnow.com logo
Oct 14 • 6:15 PM EDT • Business • hawaiinewsnow.com
The Shores Mental Health in Westport expands access to behavioral healthcare services

WESTPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — The Shores Mental Health is expanding access to its mental healthcare services to Westport with new upgrades. The program is a part of St. Vincent’s Medical Center an…

wtnh.com logo
Oct 14 • 5:29 PM EDT • Health • wtnh.com
Governor, health advocates push bill to lower drug prices for 23 medications

Under the proposed legislation, the state's Prescription Drug Affordability Board would have the authority to match the maximum fair price for prescriptions negotiated by the federal Medicare program.

wbaltv.com logo
Oct 14 • 5:24 PM EDT • Health • wbaltv.com
🙂 Positive (33%)
love
71%
ahah
29%
"Programming is hard": Epic Games leans on "vibe coding" for its new Launcher app

But the new "Preview" app "will have some bugs," Epic warns.

arstechnica.com logo
Oct 14 • 5:15 PM EDT • Technology • arstechnica.com
‘Misty Green’ review: Rosalind Eleazar is a revelation in uneven drama

Chris Rock’s drama about a once-successful Hollywood actress struggling to navigate her second act is tonally all over the place, but its star is fantastic.

yakimaherald.com logo
Oct 14 • 5:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • yakimaherald.com
Hilary Swank, 52, pregnant with third baby

“A lot of people have been asking what project I’m doing next,” the actress captioned her Instagram announcement.

yahoo.com logo
Oct 14 • 4:57 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Reversing age by reprogramming gene expression networks

Every organ and tissue progressively loses function and integrity as it ages. In fact, researchers have identified "hallmarks of aging" that not only present specific processes impacted by age, but are ...

medicalxpress.com logo
Oct 14 • 4:50 PM EDT • Technology • medicalxpress.com
Early voting surges ahead of midterms, with records falling in many states

The surge comes as Republicans scramble to save control of the House and Senate

spectrumlocalnews.com logo
Oct 14 • 4:47 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
Early voting surges ahead of midterms, with records falling in many states

The surge comes as Republicans scramble to save control of the House and Senate

spectrumlocalnews.com logo
Oct 14 • 4:47 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
Jalen Ramsey out of Steelers practice, Jamel Dean limited
sports.yahoo.com logo
Oct 14 • 4:35 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions

Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”

gamefile.news logo
Oct 14 • 4:31 PM EDT • Technology • gamefile.news
LMH Health receives Level IV Trauma Center designation

LMH Health has been designated a Level IV Trauma Center by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), recognizing the organization’s trauma program and strengthening access to emergency care for patients across the region. The achievement follows a comprehensive review process conducted every three years to ensure hospitals meet standards established by the American […]

lmh.org logo
Oct 14 • 4:30 PM EDT • Health • lmh.org
Monte Ahuja gives Cleveland State $10M to reinvent business college

The donation will help CSU update its business programs to prepare students for a workplace increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and other new technologies.

crainscleveland.com logo
Oct 14 • 4:22 PM EDT • Business • crainscleveland.com
1 in 5 Lawyers Rate Their Mental Health as 'Fair' or 'Poor,' Illinois Study Finds

Nearly 27% of lawyers surveyed by the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program said they have daily or weekly feelings of stress regarding work, and 66% believe their workplaces harm their mental health, physical health or overall wellness and would consider leaving.

law.com logo
Oct 14 • 3:46 PM EDT • Health • law.com
Brooklyn Bar Association highlights detailed business practices, supportive firm culture as keys to firm success

The Brooklyn Bar Association hosted a virtual CLE program on Oct. 14 centered on how law firms can improve their business practices through LEAP, a legal

amny.com logo
Oct 14 • 3:45 PM EDT • Business • amny.com
Sacramento’s Harvest and Health Festival returns for its 15th year

The 15th annual Harvest and Health Festival returns to Sacramento on Saturday.

kcra.com logo
Oct 14 • 2:47 PM EDT • Health • kcra.com
Deep dive
🙂 Positive (32%)
ahah
60%
love
20%
wow
20%
Faculty in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences receive funding to develop industry-embedded experiential learning programs

Two faculty members in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS) have received funding from Clemson University to develop experiential

news.clemson.edu logo
Oct 14 • 2:11 PM EDT • Science • news.clemson.edu
Faculty in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences receive funding to develop industry-embedded experiential learning programs

Two faculty members in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences (CBSHS) have received funding from Clemson University to develop experiential

news.clemson.edu logo
Oct 14 • 2:11 PM EDT • Health • news.clemson.edu
SEG releases plans for Downtown entertainment district, Salt Palace overhaul

The Smith Entertainment Group released new details and plans for its Downtown district with updates to the Salt Palace and Delta Center.

buildingsaltlake.com logo
Oct 14 • 1:50 PM EDT • Entertainment • buildingsaltlake.com
In Good Health: Are We Solving Hearing Loss?

For those experiencing hearing loss, being able to discern the speech of other people in noisy environments can be frustrating. And hearing aids often don’t convey sound in every situation.Hearing loss affects 37.5 million adults in this country. And rates of hearing loss increase with age. Some 10 percent of those over the age of 55 have hearing loss that qualifies as a disability. And just over half of all people over the age of 75 have disabling hearing loss.In this edition of “In Good Health,” we talk about the health issues that most affect us and put your questions to the experts. This time, we tackle hearing loss.Here are some resources shared by our experts during this discussion:- HearAdvisor.com – a hearing aid comparison and review site- Hear & Beyond by Shari Eberts and Gael Hannan – a guide to navigating hearing loss- Hearing Number app – a free smartphone app by Johns Hopkins University for measuring how much sound you can hearFind more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

npr.org logo
Oct 14 • 1:44 PM EDT • Health • npr.org
High-Signal Publisher
Juice bar closed until further notice after car slams into building

A juice bar announced that it will remain closed until further notice after a car rammed into the business on Wednesday.

actionnews5.com logo
Oct 14 • 1:39 PM EDT • Business • actionnews5.com
La Pine High School loses medical sponsorship

After 10 years the La Pine Community Health Center ended its medical sponsorship of La Pine High School on Oct. 2, causing the Deschutes County Health Services Department to scramble […]

bendbulletin.com logo
Oct 14 • 1:35 PM EDT • Health • bendbulletin.com
Commentary: Karen Bass says L.A.'s political establishment doesn't like Raman. Well, boo hoo

Karen Bass says L.A.'s political establishment doesn't like Raman. Well, boo hoo

latimes.com logo
Oct 14 • 1:34 PM EDT • Politics • latimes.com
AHF • ‘Food for Health’ Steps Up Nationwide Expansion in Second Half of 2026

AIDS Healthcare Foundation's "Food for Health" program addresses serious hunger and food insecurity issues in the United States.

aidshealth.org logo
Oct 14 • 1:32 PM EDT • Health • aidshealth.org
Not Your Parents’ Study Abroad: How Business Schools Are Rethinking International Exchange

BisNet’s 25th annual conference shows how leading business schools are rethinking study abroad through career prep, shorter programs, and broader access.

poetsandquantsforundergrads.com logo
Oct 14 • 1:11 PM EDT • Business • poetsandquantsforundergrads.com
Hazle Township Early Learning Center enjoy science program

On Oct. 5, second-grade students at the Hazle Township Early Learning Center participated in a Title I federally funded parent engagement program, Joe Romano’s Is it Magic or Science? This event was organized to promote literacy within s…

standardspeaker.com logo
Oct 14 • 12:53 PM EDT • Science • standardspeaker.com
MTSU Public Health Program celebrates growth, alumni impact at annual PHamily Dinner

From celebrating three consecutive years of enrollment growth to recognizing outstanding alumni, Middle Tennessee State University’s Public Health Program had plenty to celebrate during its fourth annual PHamily Dinner.

mtsunews.com logo
Oct 14 • 12:53 PM EDT • Health • mtsunews.com
DeWolf Family Foundation donates $3.5 million to Tippie College of Business

The Cedar Rapids-based DeWolf Family Foundation is planning a big investment into the future of student readiness at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. According to a University of Iowa news release, the foundation will be donating $3.5 million to the college’s Tippie Thrive program, a peer-led initiative to prepare Tippie students for […]

corridorbusiness.com logo
Oct 14 • 12:53 PM EDT • Business • corridorbusiness.com
Roundtable Rams Episode 39 - Recapping the MNF Heartbreaking Loss

Roundtable Rams crew James Brizuela and Billie Melissa break down the Los Angeles Rams' loss to the Buffalo Bills.

sports.yahoo.com logo
Oct 14 • 12:11 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Maven’s Kate Ryder on using AI to help solve long-unanswered questions in women’s health-care

Maven CEO and founder Kate Ryder says AI has already dramatically lowered administrative costs and is writing all of the health benefits’ company’s code, but for patients, the greater promise of AI is in closing information gaps, a particularly frustrating issue women have always faced when seeking care.

cnbc.com logo
Oct 14 • 12:09 PM EDT • Health • cnbc.com
Harvard Global Health Institute announces 2026–2027 fellowship cohorts

The Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) is pleased to welcome its 2026–2027 fellowship cohorts across three programs: the HGHI Burke Global Health Fellowship, the HGHI-Salata Burke Climate and Health Fellowship, and the Harvard LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health.

news.harvard.edu logo
Oct 14 • 12:01 PM EDT • Health • news.harvard.edu
The Sewing Hui of Maui launches bridal and formalwear alterations training program

Five Maui residents will receive specialized sewing and business training, with $2,000 in startup funding available to each successful graduate.

mauinow.com logo
Oct 14 • 12:00 PM EDT • Business • mauinow.com
Inside the ad model behind Issa Rae’s microdramas—and why Poppi and Sol de Janeiro are buying in

As microdramas gain traction as an entertainment format, Issa Rae’s media company, Hoorae, is pitching advertisers on its short-form series as media buys, not social media campaigns.

adage.com logo
Oct 14 • 12:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • adage.com
MIPCOM Cannes Attendance Dips as AI, Creators and Vertical Dramas Reshape Global Entertainment Market

CANNES, France — Attendance at MIPCOM Cannes was down this year, but the world’s largest international television market is undergoing a transformation that organizers say reflects the dramatic changes sweeping through the global entertainment business. MIPCOM Cannes 2026 drew 10,100 delegates from 104 countries, down from approximately 10,600 attendees from 107 countries last year. The … Continue reading "MIPCOM Cannes Attendance Dips as AI, Creators and Vertical Dramas Reshape Global Entertainment Market"

mediaplaynews.com logo
Oct 14 • 11:47 AM EDT • Entertainment • mediaplaynews.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (8%)
wow
76%
love
24%
Fall is full of ways to connect with nature, get creative, and recharge at Trailside Nature & Science Center

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to explore a variety of upcoming programs, including sound bowl meditation, acrylic painting workshops, forest bathing and tea cerem…

ucnj.org logo
Oct 14 • 11:46 AM EDT • Science • ucnj.org
😐 Neutral (19%)
wow
100%
WORLD BUSINESS CHICAGO UNVEILS KEYNOTE LINEUP FOR INAUGURAL CHICAGO VENTURE SUMMIT: FUTURE OF HEALTH

/PRNewswire/ -- World Business Chicago (WBC) today announced the keynote speakers and initial program for the inaugural Chicago Venture Summit: Future of...

prnewswire.com logo
Oct 14 • 11:45 AM EDT • Health • prnewswire.com
WORLD BUSINESS CHICAGO UNVEILS KEYNOTE LINEUP FOR INAUGURAL CHICAGO VENTURE SUMMIT: FUTURE OF HEALTH

/PRNewswire/ -- World Business Chicago (WBC) today announced the keynote speakers and initial program for the inaugural Chicago Venture Summit: Future of...

prnewswire.com logo
Oct 14 • 11:45 AM EDT • Business • prnewswire.com
WDM Chamber opens nominations for High School Leadership Academy

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with West Des Moines Community Schools, is accepting nominations for its 2027 High School Leadership Academy. The free program offers up to 30 students in grades 9-12 an opportunity to develop leadership skills, explore career pathways and connect with local businesses through hands-on experiences and professional…

businessrecord.com logo
Oct 14 • 11:43 AM EDT • Business • businessrecord.com
Op-ed: Brooklyn’s empty storefronts should become on-ramps for M/WBEs

A June analysis by New York City Comptroller Mark Levine found approximately 15,700 vacant storefronts citywide.

crainsnewyork.com logo
Oct 14 • 11:00 AM EDT • Business • crainsnewyork.com
RWJBarnabas Health Provides $1 Million Lifeline to Maintain, Expand Stable Housing for Unhoused Newarkers

RWJBarnabas Health has announced a $1 million investment in Newark-based United Community Corporation (UCC) to expand its medical respite program for individuals experiencing homelessness and support the continued operation of its emergency shelter. The funding will double the program's capacity from 10 to 20 residents, providing more patients with a safe place to recover following hospital discharge while addressing housing instability and other social determinants of health.

newswise.com logo
Oct 14 • 10:45 AM EDT • Health • newswise.com
Schmeling Construction Co. wins award for work at Home Base Sports Fields

Schmeling Construction Co. among “Best of the Best” in Illinois for donating time and talent to construct Home Base Sports Fields, a one-of-a-kind place to play for Buddy Baseball and All Stars Baseball programs.

rockfordparkdistrict.org logo
Oct 14 • 10:27 AM EDT • Sports • rockfordparkdistrict.org
Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Inks Deal With Fox Entertainment For Vertical Content, Microdramas

Fox Entertainment and Hartbeat announced a multi-faceted partnership that leverages new, original vertical series as a development pipeline for film and television content. The partnership pairs Codeblack’s record of building film and television businesses for underserved audiences with Fox Entertainment’s studio operations, worldwide sales organization and growing vertical video ecosystem. It also extends vertical storytelling … Continue reading "Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Inks Deal With Fox Entertainment For Vertical Content, Microdramas"

mediaplaynews.com logo
Oct 14 • 10:16 AM EDT • Entertainment • mediaplaynews.com
Americans with disabilities worry about proposed changes to major national health survey

The federal government plans to dramatically shrink the size of its National Health Interview Survey, sparking concerns about underestimating disability rates.

seattletimes.com logo
Oct 14 • 10:14 AM EDT • Health • seattletimes.com
Americans with disabilities worry about proposed changes to major national health survey

NEW YORK (AP) — The federal government is planning to dramatically shrink its most influential health survey, and some researchers worry that the changes will

ktar.com logo
Oct 14 • 10:13 AM EDT • Health • ktar.com
RWJBarnabas Health Provides $1 Million Lifeline to Maintain, Expand Stable Housing for Unhoused Newarkers

RWJBarnabas Health today announced a $1 million donation to United Community Corporation (UCC), a longstanding pillar of the Newark community, to support and double the capacity of its medical respite program that provides safe, stable, transitional housing for the unhoused following discharge from a hospital.

rwjbh.org logo
Oct 14 • 10:02 AM EDT • Health • rwjbh.org