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More than 4,400 measles cases reported in US as CDC plans to send 'disease detective' to Pennsylvania
More than 4,400 measles cases have been reported in the U.S. as the CDC says it plans to send a "disease detective" to Pennsylvania.
Ocasio-Cortez Transfers $1 Million to Help El-Sayed in Michigan Senate Race
The transfer represents an unusually large amount for a House member to give to a Senate race.
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal plan to take another team photo including William Saliba after defender's omission
William Saliba was left out of Arsenals team photograph for the 2026/27 season earlier this week; Mikel Arteta explained it was taken because of commercial obligations despite defenders absence; club will retake image
The Definitive Futuristic Mechanical Watch Debuts Its Ultimate Version
Ressence unveils the Type 10 DN, the brand's first watch to combine an in-house movement with an oil-filled dial.
Kopernik Cultural Center to host Polish heritage event
UTICA — The Kopernik Cultural Center, 810 Columbia St., will host a free open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, in observance of Polish-American Heritage Month. The
Davids Urges Federal Action as Kansas Small Businesses Squeezed Out of Tariff Refunds While Large Corporations Cash In
Today, Representative Sharice Davids demanded immediate action to ensure Kansas small businesses receive the tariff refunds they are owed. Following this year’s Supreme Court ruling overturning the president’s reckless tariffs, the federal government began processing billions of dollars in refunds.
M.A. Silva adds two wine industry veterans to sales team
The Santa Rosa cork and glass packaging supplier creates a business development position and hires an account manager with 28 years of experience.
Plague is stoppable. The next health threat may not be.
The word plague is scary. Centuries ago, the Black Death killed tens of millions of people and changed the course of history. Plague still kills people around the world, and the word still evokes catastrophe. New fears of plague surfaced on October 2, when a lab worker in Irkutsk, Russia, died of pneumonia. Reports suggested that she may have contracted plague through a laboratory exposure. Understandably, people were alarmed. On October 7, the World Health Organization called for the Russian Federation to be transparent about what it knew. WHO issued an update on October 10. Russian authorities told WHO that testing did not identify plague and that investigations found no laboratory release. WHO said confidence in its risk assessment remained limited and that further clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory information was needed. The cause of the woman’s illness remains unknown, and WHO says a laboratory-associated exposure cannot be excluded. As I explained in a recent interview, this incident is very unlikely to lead to a pandemic. Plague is still active, including in the U.S., which sees a handful of cases each year. But it is a disease we can prevent and treat. Plague doesn’t spread readily, and it responds to antibiotics. The standard response—isolate the patient, trace contacts, and administer antibiotics and monitor for symptoms among contacts for seven days—works. We have even planned for antibiotic-resistant plague. At CDC, we developed a playbook for antibiotic-resistant plague and ran exercises on how to find and stop it. CDC guidance anticipates engineered resistance and recommends two different classes of antibiotics if there’s reason to suspect it. There is no evidence that resistance—or even confirmed plague—is involved in this incident. We have thought through how to address plague, but we’re not ready for the next major health threat that emerges from a lab or from animal spillover to humans. What should concern people is how little stands between the world and the next pathogen to get loose. Since peak COVID, epidemic preparedness has fallen off the political agenda, but the risk is greater than ever. More labs handle dangerous pathogens with more ways to make those pathogens deadlier, and more people live and work in close contact with animals. There are actions we can take now: We need better lab safety in every country. The number of labs that work with dangerous pathogens has increased worldwide over two decades, but there’s no enforceable international standard and no inspection regime; the Biological Weapons Convention, fifty years on, still has no verification mechanism. Labs that study dangerous germs need strong safety systems, training, and oversight. We need to reduce spillover events. Three in four emerging human infections start in animals, and there’s a lot we can do to reduce spillover risk, but the world is doing very little of it. Live-animal markets are one place to act. For instance, closing live-bird markets helped control H7N9 influenza in China. Reducing opportunities for people to encounter infected animals can prevent infections before they become outbreaks. In The Formula for Better Health, which is now out in paperback along with the hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook versions, I argue that labs do too many risky experiments with too many dangerous pathogens in too many institutions, and that every experiment should first answer one basic question: Is the likely benefit greater than the risk? Spillover risk can also be reduced: In the book, I discuss how Brazil cut its deforestation rate by 70% from 2004 to 2012 while increasing agricultural production and reducing risky contact between people and forest animals. We need faster detection and response. Delay costs lives. Strong surveillance, good labs, and trained responders can turn a single case into a small cluster of infections instead of an epidemic. Resolve to Save Lives has worked for nearly a decade to help countries find and stop outbreaks faster. The 7-1-7 target, which Resolve to Save Lives developed with partners in Uganda and elsewhere, provides a clear standard: detect within 7 days, notify within 1 day and complete all essential early response actions within 7 days. In Uganda’s Kasese district, for example, a review of a measles outbreak using 7-1-7 identified shortages of accessible funds, fuel, and vehicles that delayed the response. District leaders established funds they could access quickly. When, a few months later, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever appeared, the district detected it in three days, notified authorities in one, and mounted an effective response in two. Only one case was confirmed, and the patient survived. Because funds were available before the emergency, authorities were prepared and able to act. This kind of preparation can’t wait until the next crisis begins. Plague is an old disease we that know how to stop. The next threat may be harder to recognize, harder to treat, and easier to spread. Safer labs, less risk of spillover, and faster outbreak detection and response need sustained investment now, while we still have time to prevent the next emergency. Share
Josh Van Kirk
Josh Van Kirk, experienced in capital markets and securities work, has joined Harris Beach Murtha as senior counsel. He’s practiced corporate and
How Congress' college sports bill could impact Delaware’s student athletes
Despite its recent gridlock, the U.S. Senate last month passed the Protect College Sports Act with broad bipartisan support, even as the bill divided Delaware’s normally lockstep delegation.
Nvidia is no longer a PC gaming company. Get used to it
The disappearance of the GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card shouldn't come as a surprise, because PC game fans are no longer Nvidia's audience—AI companies are.
Ken Kutaragi ‘understands’ why PlayStation fans don’t want to give up physical games
‘Father of PlayStation’ suggests game companies need to change sentiment around digital ownership…
Adam Schiff Warns AI-Generated Political Ads Are Making It Harder to Know What’s Real Ahead of Midterm Elections: 'Congress Can't Afford to Sit on the Sidelines'
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned that deceptive artificial intelligence-generated political advertisements could mislead voters and interfere with elections, urging Congress to address the growing t...
Actinium Pharmaceuticals Appoints Radiopharmaceutical Industry Veteran Sean Maenpaa as Senior Vice President, Business Development
/PRNewswire/ -- Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: ATNM) ("Actinium" or the "Company"), a pioneer in the development of targeted radiotherapies,...
Huanyu Entertainment Showcases New Productions at 42nd MIPCOM Cannes
The 42nd MIPCOM Cannes opened October 12 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, focusing on branded entertainment, AI-generated content, microdramas and vertical video. Huanyu Entertainment presented new productions, including Shadows of Desire and Echoes, and participated as a lead partner in the October 14 AI Entertainment Forum, discussing AI content monetization.
Alaska Senate candidates clash over the Iran war, high prices and their times in office
Sen. Dan Sullivan attacked former Rep. Mary Peltola over reporting on high staff turnover and lobbying, while Peltola pointed to Sullivan’s increase in wealth while serving the public.
‘Make America Great Again’ and ‘Socialism’: Orange District 7 ads tout national themes
Vargo said she’s never owned a MAGA hat. While she wouldn’t say if she voted for President Trump, she said she “had concerns the first time he ran.”
She Was Fired by Hegseth. Now She’s Campaigning for Congress.
Could Charleston send a Democrat to Congress?
Trump attacks fellow Republicans for ‘hurting Texas’ during senate election race
A GOP loss in Texas would be a major blow for the US president and the Republicans
Column: Mel's Drive-In is more than a building or a business
Mel's Drive-In is too essential to the identity of Route 66 to be torn down for the creation of 138 apartments.
‘Far too close for comfort’: An under-the-radar Senate race embodies Democrats’ midterm worries
An open Senate seat in Minnesota.
Commentary: Mainers are tired of dark money and the rigged horse race
Allegations that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was being investigated by the FBI for a potential connection to a pay-for-play scheme until President Donald Trump purged the bureau’s anti-corruption unit, to some observers, seemed like a political bombshell destined to crater the senator’s re-election efforts. But based on conversations with several Maine voters, the ProPublica investigation […]
Fish, Oil and Corruption: 6 Takeaways From Alaska’s Senate Debate
The Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan, and his Democratic challenger, Mary Peltola, veered from serious discussion of high prices and economic challenges to blistering personal attacks.
The People on the Move 10/16/2026
MANUFACTURING Fresno company Netafim USA, the precision agriculture business of Orbia, has appointed Jason Scheibel as senior director of sales for North America and Brian Shade as regional sales manager to support the company's
The record and the alternative
Elections involving incumbents offer voters something elections between newcomers cannot: evidence. Tom Sullivan need not tell Senate District 27 voters what kind of legislator he might be. After four years in the Colorado House and nearly four in the Senate, he has accumulated something more revealing than campaign promises. A record. Danielle Lammon offers something […]
New Business Licenses: 10.16.26
Chesterfield reports physical therapy, emergency readiness consulting, a music academy and more. (BizSense Pro required)
Weird and misleading political ads: How to talk to kids about them
It’s hard to distinguish reality from fiction in a world of AI and desensitization.
Nigeria: ICRC-supported health facilities see 18 per cent rise in malnutrition cases
In north-east Nigeria, admissions for malnutrition have risen by nearly a fifth in a single year at six health centres and four hospitals supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). They went from around 17,000 cases between January and September 2025 to almost 20,000 cases over the same period this year.
Bitter personal attacks and Trump’s war in Iran highlighted in Thursday’s Senate debates in Alaska and Maine
Candidates faced off in heated debates Thursday night in two of the country’s most competitive Senate races, showing how bitter — and personal — each contest has become.
Most of Ken Paxton’s Money Can Be Traced to One Man: Elon Musk
The world’s richest person, who has become the biggest known midterm donor, gave $158 million to a group that quickly spent that much to help Mr. Paxton’s Senate bid in Texas.
New White House Press Secretary denies misrepresenting her legal credentials
Watch: Will disenchanted Iowa Republicans reject Trump in the midterms?
The BBC's Sarah Smith travelled across the state ahead of the midterms, as the president faces political headwinds.
Trump will rally Georgia Republicans despite party divisions in battleground state
Donald Trump is headed to Georgia on Friday to campaign with Republican candidates for the Senate and governor. But the show of GOP unity actually highlights party divisions and risks
Rx for Virginians’ health, one grocery bag at a time
The Trump administration’s cuts to SNAP are sending an estimated 130,000 vulnerable Virginians off the food subsidy program. A network of nearly 100 food pharmacies in Virginia is struggling to fill the gap – and provide families with healthy produce and food.
Celebrate Brewers' pennant with book, page print from Journal Sentinel
The Brewers captured their first pennant in 44 years. Order the Journal Sentinel's commemorative book and page print to celebrate.
In Michigan Senate Race, Ocasio-Cortez Joins El-Sayed on Trail in Trump Country
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigned with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in a swath of Michigan including areas won by President Trump, making a progressive pitch in a key Senate race.
5 Takeaways From the Senate Debate in Maine
The race’s fourth and final debate centered around whether Senator Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent, was as independent as she claimed to be from President Trump.
Joe Romano brings the magic of science to West Hazleton Elementary
On Oct. 6, fourth- and fifth-grade students and their families at West Hazleton Elementary/Middle School enjoyed an engaging and educational presentation by Joe Romano, who combined science and magic to create an unforgettable learning…
Chris Ilitch Sends Message About Dylan Larkin’s Future
Chris Ilitch addresses Dylan Larkin's uncertain Red Wings future and delivers a message of support amid the former captain's trade request.
Elon Musk donates over $150 million to Senate GOP group, assisting Ken Paxton
'Oh, shut up!': Democrat snaps at Collins after heckler drives Maine Senate debate off the rails
A protester yelling about AI data centers sparked a fiery clash between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.
Cardinals Chosen As Innovative Philanthropic Company Of Year By Phoenix Business Journal
Arizona Cardinals Official Team Website I Arizona Cardinals – AZCardinals.com
Vance and El-Sayed trade barbs in Michigan
Vice President JD Vance and Michigan Democratic Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed had choice words for one another while on the campaign trail in Michigan.
SF Billionaire Chris Larsen on AI: “This Is an Incredibly Dangerous Moment”
Larsen once called for a "middle path" on the AI arms race but now says we need to "shut down all the data centers."
Leading Colorado U.S. Senate candidates debate on campus
Students filled the King Center theater to learn where each man stands on the issues and to get an up-close view of politics in action.
Members speak up on healthcare
An important first step, S4438 has first committee hearing Earlier today, NJEA members made their voices heard at the NJ Senate’s State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee meeting.
Poll: Cotton takes lead over Shoffner
A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll released Thursday (Oct. 15) shows incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton with a nine-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Hallie Shoffner. The...
Poll: Cotton takes lead over Shoffner
A new Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll released Thursday (Oct. 15) shows incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton with a nine-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Hallie Shoffner. The...
Berkeley Haas unveils strategic plan with new initiatives in AI, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and sustainability & social impact - Haas News
UC Berkeley Haas today unveiled a new strategic plan designed to strengthen its standing as a global business education leader, a school where analytical rigor, human judgment, and innovation work together to move business forward. The plan rests on three foundational pillars essential to the school’s mission: expanding the impact of its research; strengthening its […]
Oct. 15: Why Feds Are Investigating Rep. Ilhan Omar and Why Science Journalist Cleo Abram is Optimistic about AI
Just weeks before the midterm elections, federal agents searched the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., seizing her phone and issuing around a dozen subpoenas, two people familiar with the DOJ investigation told NBC News. NBC News senior justice reporter Ryan J. Reilly explains how the move fits into a broader trend of the DOJ going after President Trump’s perceived political enemies and why it’s so unusual to launch this kind of probe right before an election. Then, Cleo Abram is a video journalist and the host of the widely popular YouTube series “HUGE* if true” and “HUGE* conversations,” where she looks at the potential and the solutions offered by science and technology. Cleo talks about why she’s still a tech optimist in light of growing AI doomerism and how her interviews with industry leaders have shaped her perspective on security and regulation. Lastly, we wade into the internet’s favorite controversy this week: singer and TV personality Kelly Clarkson’s social media fight with a Brooklyn shop over a mechanical bird. NBC News entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas spills the tea on the back-and-forth – and why the bird is now going for $15 million.
3 Trades The Lions Could Make for Budda Baker
A blockbuster Detroit Lions trade proposal would send Sam LaPorta to Arizona in exchange for Budda Baker, Josh Sweat, and a draft pick.
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis: 'I don't think crime is top of mind' in race for NC seat
Republican candidate Michael Whatley and Republican-aligned PACs have largely focused on former Gov. Roy Cooper's record on criminal justice issues.
Clean Politics, Clean Water NC defends anti-Lee signs, as campaign weighs legal action
NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Advocacy group Clean Politics, Clean Water NC is standing behind the guerilla-style signs, cutouts and flyers placed around New Hanover County against Sen. Michael Lee and his…
Ford supplier cuts jobs in Sterling Heights as some work sent to India
Kern J.G. Enterprise Inc. filed the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, citing "unforeseeable business circumstances."
Senators Demand Investigation Into Ukraine Satellite Disruption
Republicans joined Democrats in calling on the Pentagon’s inspector general to look into whether the Trump administration was responsible for the interruption.
‘Sense and Sensibility’ (2026) review: Daisy Edgar-Jones shines in adaptation
Georgia Oakley's take on Jane Austen's novel isn't quite as memorable as Ang Lee's, but it brings plenty of pleasure of its own, writes Moira Macdonald.
Political heavyweights campaign in Michigan amid crucial Senate race
The most recent Decision Desk HQ polling numbers show El-Sayed holds a 4% advantage over Rogers.
Lambeau Field ready for Sunday’s Packers vs. Cancer game, presented by UW Health
Packers-Cowboys matchup to honor those who have battled cancer
Inde Navarrette studied anime to learn screenwriting. She's onto something.
Turns out, watching "Jujutsu Kaisen" really can count as homework.
Meditation Could Tune Into Signals from a Mysterious Source—And Enable Extrasensory Powers, Scientist Claims
The controversial idea might help explain experiences like remote viewing and out-of-body feelings.
North Carolina lawmakers highlight health care, grocery costs at Asheville event
With early voting underway in North Carolina, two state representatives stopped in Asheville as part of a national bus tour.
Employees of Russellville-based Arkansas Tech University to face 14% health insurance premium hike in 2027
RUSSELLVILLE -- Faculty and staff at Arkansas Tech University are set to see double-digit increases in their health and dental insurance premiums in 2027 after the hikes were presented to the Board of Trustees on Thursday.
Talarico rallies as his Texas U.S. Senate race against Paxton enters final weeks
Texas state Rep. James Talarico is seen as a real contender to win the seat against Republican candidate Ken Paxton.
Independent candidate for governor accuses Sen. Marsha Blackburn of favoring political self-interest over the people
Independent candidate for governor Lauren Pinkston made claims against frontrunner Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee. Pinkston claims that Blackburn’s office is more worried about political gain that the people.
Suspicious materials sent to members of Congress, police say
Several other pieces of suspicious mail were sent to state officials this week, according to FBI.
IP Saves the Day On Streaming
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get started, I wanted to highlight a new idea I saw from Real Good AI, proposing a ratings system for AI use. (H/T to Anthony Kaufman’s article highlighting this.) It would look something like this: In general, I think that this is a solid, middle-ground solution that should appease both the pro-AI camp (who love AI) and the anti-AI camp (who wants to know if what they’re watching didn’t come from humans). Regardless of your feelings on AI/LLMs—I’ll never use it for my writing—transparency is often the best solution to many problems. In general, I think way more media outlets need to be using way more AI disclosures. My quick “Yes and...” to this idea: what about ads? In particular, I hate it when I see or hear ads that are obviously AI-generated, but a person or voice says, “I used this product”. AI doesn’t use products! Just today, I watched a YouTube ad where a “person” said they use some sort of rain wind chime...but that’s not a real person! They didn’t use this product. (Especially since the video of the wind chime itself also appeared to be AI-generated...) I believe most traditional advertising already has standards like this anyway.1 Okay, on to this week’s issue. We’re covering the week of 14-Sep, and then next issue, I’ll be fully caught up with Nielsen’s new release schedule. In the future, I plan to put out Streaming Ratings Reports each Monday after Nielsen’s Thursday releases. Overall, we had some big new shows this week, like Prime Video’s Reacher spinoff_, Neagley_, which is off to a big, big start, and Netflix’s latest in its Monster anthology, which is their largest opening since June and the second-largest since One Piece came out in March. All that, plus Slow Horses returns, the trio of returning shows (Lioness, Reacher and Ted Lasso) continue to dominate the top tens, Paramount+’s latest crime drama, a big whiff for a Netflix original film and a precipitous drop for Netflix film charts, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of September 14th to September 20th 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - IP For the TV Win Can I use the dirty word of entertainment journalism right now? IP. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone I said it. But IP works at the box office, and we’ve seen some evidence it works in TV too. Not as well, and not all the time—no absolutes here!—but often enough. And glancing at the Nielsen top ten…it worked this week! Take Prime Video, who has a monster hit in the crime drama Reacher. Would a spinoff work for that show? Yep! They binge-released Neagley, about a detective from the original Reacher series, and its eight episodes debuted to 29.6 million hours. Here’s how it stacks up to Reacher, one of Prime Video’s biggest shows: That’s great. Nearly as strong as Reacher’s opening! (Both shows started with eight, binge-released episodes, so this comparison is apples-to-apples.) Notably, Prime Video scheduled the debut of Neagley to overlap with Reacher’s most recent season, to help drive tune-in. Obviously, I love smart release strategies like that. And even though I wrote “obviously”, it’s not really that obvious, since streamers don’t often take advantage of natural overlaps like this_._2 Other data backs how well Neagley performed. It opened at second place on Samba TV for two weeks and got 51.7 million hours on Luminate. That’s the eleventh biggest opening on Luminate since May of 2024 and tied with Bridgerton’s third season opening. That’s a huge opening! Its IMDb is solid too, a 7.7 on 24K reviews. Netflix’s latest edition in the “Monster” series—which started with Jeffrey Dahmer and comes from Ryan Murphy—did well too, opening to 24.7 million hours. That’s the biggest opening for Netflix since I Will Find You in June, and second biggest since March. Unlike the Reacher series, this franchise is trending downward, though. The first Monster show—Dahmer - Monster—was giant. More than anything, I think this reflects that Netflix running out of extremely popular—if that’s the right word?—serial killers to feature. Still, the data says this is a very good opening. It made it to third place on Samba TV for two weeks. It also opened to 40.0 million hours on Luminate. That’s not quite as elite as Neagley, but still very, very strong. I’ll be honest: my priors coming into any given week are that IP works to help drive buzz for new shows, but TV shows need to stand on their own even more than movies, so they will succeed or fail based on their quality. But these two spinoffs definitely worked. Quick Notes on TV The top show, film or special this week? Football, again. Specifically, Prime Video’s season opener of Thursday Night Football. The games run long (three hours) but mainly a lot of people watch each game. That adds up to a lot of viewership. Paramount released the second season of MobLand on an unusual day for that service, a Friday! Often, they put their new shows out on a Sunday, as they did last year with a run of shows (Lioness, Tulsa King and Landman). MobLand didn’t make Nielsen in its first week, but on Samba TV it got to eighth and seventh place. Luminate had a smaller opening too, only 5.3 million hours. MobLand missed the Nielsen charts for its first eight weeks, so this season is off to a stronger start. (Bonus note: the first season streams on both Prime Video and The Roku Channel, but I only have it as Paramount+ on those charts.) I’ve mentioned a few times that foreign-language originals do lower numbers than English-language originals on Netflix most of the time. But I don’t usually emphasize what country those originals come from, and observationally, they tend to be from Western or Northern European countries, in general. So credit to Not a Stranger, a Turkish Netflix original, for breaking through on Luminate, getting to 7.9 million hours in its first full week on those charts. As I mentioned last issue, Crew Girl ended up making the Nielsen charts in its second week. That’s still a soft performance compared to many shows, but again this, one looks affordable. And if you’re curious, here’s how it stacks up to some other sports romance shows: We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… …about a new data source and how it drives streaming viewership… ...what reality show is struggling in its latest season…. ...what Netflix film bombed…. ...How Reacher, Ted Lasso, and Lioness are doing on the charts… ...what obscure sport put up great viewership numbers… …how far streaming films are falling… …all the flops, bombs and misses for the last week… …and more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue. Coming Soon! Next week, we’ve got a double issue, then we’ll be all caught up with Nielsen’s data. Yes! The goal is to have my report out on the Monday after I get Nielsen’s data. So next issue, I’m looking at East of Eden, The Great British Baking Show, a Willy Wonka game show (that people are upset uses AI, but viewers might not care), and a Cosby show spinoff reboot on Netflix, and Brothers on Apple TV (starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey). That’s about it for TV, but who’s going to win the streaming week, The Breadwinner or Backrooms on streaming? Answer: Toy Story 5. Plus Netflix has a Unabomber film and a new Tyler Perry film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma tries to repeat The Substance’s run on MUBI, and Paramount+ has Jackass: Best and Last. Long term, Netflix is remaking Lonesome Dove. I love this choice, but man, there are a lot of westerns on TV right now. And they’re making Sega TV shows, including a Crazy Taxi TV show and Sonic show with an “edge”.
13News Now
13News Now (WVEC) is made up of storytellers, innovators, content creators, and idea generators. We stand for passion. Passion for our people, passion in our product, and above all- passion in our community. We value honesty, accuracy, and solutions. We serve as the local ABC affiliate for Hampton Roads. We strive for interaction with our audience and are constantly working on our presentation so that you have the best experience when consuming our products. Whether on air, online, or on the go- we are everywhere you go. Digitally we lead the market by more than a million actions over our nearest competitor. Join the conversation with us, help us tell the Stories of Now. About our parent company TEGNA- TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. With 46 television stations in 38 markets, TEGNA delivers relevant content and information to consumers across platforms.
Trump administration advances plan for peptide drugs favored by RFK Jr.
Peptides are essentially unproven, unapproved, injectable drugs.
Nina Dietz to Discuss the Public Health Impacts of Wildfires at the Milken Institute
Image The Department of Global Health at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health will host Pulitzer Center grantee and freelance journalist Nina Dietz at a Research and Practice Seminar. On Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 2:00pm-3:00pm EST, Dietz will present on her Pulitzer Center-supported project The Toxic Side of Climate Change. The project investigates the hazards left behind by urban wildfires in Los Angeles and examines the long-term risks these toxins pose to affected communities. The project also explores what remains in the ash and debris after a fire, and how those materials impact public health. Dietz is a writer, documentarian, and journalist reporting from a background rooted in both science and the humanities. Her work has appeared in New Lines Magazine, Inside Climate News, Science Friday, and at Photoville, among others.
ESPN gambling writer defends network over ‘neutered’ coverage criticism
Former ESPN producer Nicole Noren sent chills through the industry by going public with her resignation after more than two decades at the network, citing its sports betting coverage. Since nationwide sports betting was legalized, gambling companies have taken over the sports world. That has had a stunning impact on American society that we still…
Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Will Something Wicked This Way Come?
In a week, live from Lawrence, Kansas, Louisville basketball fans will get a sense of what’s to come in the ’26-’27 campaign, without it counting as a W or L. Maybe. Depending on whether Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Brian Edwards issues a ruling, which will tell us — at least for a moment if not […]
Gulfshore Playhouse presents the world goes ’round musical
Gulfshore Playhouse introduces the cast of “The World Goes ’Round,” a celebration of the music of Tony Award-winning songwriting team John Kander and Fred Ebb, running Oct. 20 through Nov.
Alsobrooks calls for crypto regulations as industry money flows into Maryland politics
Senator Angela Alsobrooks says the crypto industry needs federal regulation. So does the industry, which has spent millions in Maryland politics this year. What exactly do they want?
Members of Governor’s Competitiveness Council break ranks to criticize tax proposal
Colorado needs to create a regulatory concierge for businesses, to treat housing as essential infrastructure, to simplify its sales and use tax system, and to modernize its workforce pipeline.
Rocky Horror Picture Show, Haunted Hallway return to Rome
Rome's Capitol Theatre hosts The Rocky Horror Picture Show and free Haunted Hallway Bazaar on Oct. 24, featuring costumes, entertainment and more.
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.
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
On the latest episode of his Power On podcast, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he heard that Apple has tested both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion displays for the next iPad mini. However, he has not yet learned which option Apple has chosen. However, he has not yet learned which option Apple has chosen.
Medicare open enrollment starts now. These changes will arrive in 2027
Open enrollment comes as inflation adds pressure on seniors whose healthcare costs have risen and as midterm elections are weeks away. Voters have consistently said cost-of-living is a major concern.
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 […]
13News Now
13News Now (WVEC) is made up of storytellers, innovators, content creators, and idea generators. We stand for passion. Passion for our people, passion in our product, and above all- passion in our community. We value honesty, accuracy, and solutions. We serve as the local ABC affiliate for Hampton Roads. We strive for interaction with our audience and are constantly working on our presentation so that you have the best experience when consuming our products. Whether on air, online, or on the go- we are everywhere you go. Digitally we lead the market by more than a million actions over our nearest competitor. Join the conversation with us, help us tell the Stories of Now. About our parent company TEGNA- TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. With 46 television stations in 38 markets, TEGNA delivers relevant content and information to consumers across platforms.
German MPs rebuke AfD during genocide debate
The events took place more than 120 years ago, but their consequences are still felt today: Over two days, German lawmakers have been debating their country's colonial crimes in present-day Namibia.
D.C. Everest's Kampmann wouldn't let multiple health challenges prevent state goal
She faced health challenges, a new doubles partner and long odds of reaching state. But D.C. Everest senior Brynn Kampmann refused to give up on her dream.
Business Pitch Contest
Entrepreneurs are invited to present their business pitch for potential funding during the Lighthouse Launch contest. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Kewaunee County and Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) […]
Pete Hartweger Provides Legal Perspective at Exit Planning Institute Business Owner Forum
Spencer Fane attorney Pete Hartweger presented at the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) Kansas City Chapter’s annual Business Owner Forum on September 2 in
LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment Announce Nationwide WILDWOOD Fan First Premium Screenings
Following its acclaimed world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment have announced nationwide fan first premium-format screenings of Wildwood, director Travis Knight’s ambitious new stop-motion fantasy adventure. The film will be presented in more than 100 participating theatrical locations on Monday, October 19, offering audiences an exclusive early opportunity to […]
Testosterone aids bone health in PWS with low behavior impact
Testosterone therapy may preserve bone health and improve body composition in males with PWS without worsening behavior, a study reports.
Should Giants Explore a Reunion with Gausman?
Kevin Gausman could bring in a veteran presence and stabilize the San Francisco Giants rotation.
Tulane Defense More Poised for Challenge Memphsi Presents
The Tulane Green Wave have a daunting offense to face this weekend, but it's one they're certainly more used to.
Authorities investigate letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to congressional, election offices
Federal authorities are investigating letters that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the mailings as “potentially hazardous.”
Phillies' Dave Dombrowski Sends Out Strong Message on Trea Turner
The 2026 season was one to forget for Philadelphia Phillies star Trea Turner.
Annual CCAC Summit focuses on trust, equity and responsive care - Welcome to San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County Behavioral Health presents the sixth annual Cultural Competency Advisory Committee (CCAC) Summit on Oct. 27. The San Bernardino County Behavioral Health Department invites community members, behavioral health...
RWJBARNABAS HEALTH NAMES DR. ERWIN WANG, MD, MHA, SFHM, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PHYSICIAN PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
RWJBarnabas Health has appointed Erwin Wang, MD, MHA, SFHM, as Senior Vice President of Physician Performance Improvement. In this newly created role, Dr. Wang will lead physician-driven initiatives to enhance clinical quality, patient safety, and value-based care across the health system.
One year in, Routt County Mental Health Response Team shows positive impact
The Routt County Mental Health Response Team, now just over a year old, is continuing to make a positive impact for local residents in crisis, with 128 calls for service through August of this year....
A paycheck for lawmakers is on the ballot
New York state legislators make $142,000 a year. New Hampshire state representatives and senators make $100. Legislators in 47 other states are paid a yearly salary in between those two