SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " cass " 267 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Your Raw Fury Backlog on XBOX is About to Get A Lot Bigger
We hope you’ve cleared some space in your backlog, because there are a lot of Raw Fury games heading your way on XBOX. From getting lost with friends in the mysterious depths of Deep Dish Dungeon, to collecting and fusing monsters in Cassette Beasts 2002, solving a supernatural mystery in The Seance of Blake Manor, […]
Seminole Science Students Build Complex Robots Ahead of Local Tournaments
Seminole County's best source of news since 1908. This local newspaper covers Sanford, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Oviedo, Casselberry, Geneva and parts of Volusia County such as Deltona, DeBary and Osteen.
Trust in science falls as Covid-era confidence fades, global survey finds
Global trust in science falls after Covid, with the steepest drop among people facing financial hardship, a Wellcome survey finds. Read more at straitstimes.com.
No injuries after early morning fire at Elkhart County business
WSBT CBS 22 provides news, sports, entertainment and public interest programs to the South Bend, Indiana area including Mishawaka, Notre Dame, Granger, Osceola, Elkhart, Jimtown, Dunlap, New Carlisle, Goshen, Middlebury, Bristol, New Paris, Nappanee, Howe, Lagrange, Topeka, Bourbon, Milford, Syracuse, North Webster, Warsaw, Bremen, Plymouth, Walkerton, Argos, Tippecanoe, Culver, Grovertown, Delong, Rochester, Akron, Winamac, North Judson, LaPorte, North Liberty, Wakarusa, Lapaz, Millersburg, Knox, and Michigan City, Indiana – and these areas of Michigan: St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Buchanan, Niles, Three Oaks, New Buffalo, Harbert, Bridgeman, Stevensville, Watervliet, Berrien Springs, Dowagiac, Marcellus, Cassopolis, Decatur, Vandalia, Constantine, White Pigeon, Galien and Edwardsburg.
Don't let America lose our title as world leader in research
The United States spent more than two centuries becoming a world leader in science and humanities research, but we’re quickly losing that title.
Justin Casse passed on the family training business over 4:30 a.m. wake-ups. Now he owns stakes in about 100 racehorses across six countries
Casse built a global business spotting future champions—and learned that even the best judgment can’t guarantee a winning investment.
Scientists changed how zoo lions eat. Their wild side came out
Giving zoo lions whole carcasses on a feast-and-fast schedule appears to bring out more natural behavior. The lions spent nearly three times longer feeding, engaged in more tearing and manipulating of food, and rested more heavily after meals. Their activity then increased gradually during the fasting period, closely resembling the rhythm seen in wild lions.
The 2026 Bluebird Banter Haiku Contest: Voting
Time to vote. I took all the haiku that had five or more recs. I had to put them into two polls because of an arbitrary limit that we have on Feed polls. 1: TCasserole Perfection and grace Gallant strides and vapour trails When Kirk steals second 2: Tom__M Walk, single, single Double play, strike […]
Red snapper season opens Friday; anglers can donate carcasses for science and prizes
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — Recreational anglers will have three days to harvest red snapper this weekend, and North Carolina fisheries officials are asking them to c
After losing in a closed Louisiana primary, Bill Cassidy files bill to require open party elections
Cassidy lost his seat this year after Louisiana switched to closed party primaries.
4 Cass County businesses fail alcohol compliance check
A total of 25 businesses were checked for compliance and 21 passed, an 84% compliance rate.
Milestone integration for Goshen Health in century long history
WSBT CBS 22 provides news, sports, entertainment and public interest programs to the South Bend, Indiana area including Mishawaka, Notre Dame, Granger, Osceola, Elkhart, Jimtown, Dunlap, New Carlisle, Goshen, Middlebury, Bristol, New Paris, Nappanee, Howe, Lagrange, Topeka, Bourbon, Milford, Syracuse, North Webster, Warsaw, Bremen, Plymouth, Walkerton, Argos, Tippecanoe, Culver, Grovertown, Delong, Rochester, Akron, Winamac, North Judson, LaPorte, North Liberty, Wakarusa, Lapaz, Millersburg, Knox, and Michigan City, Indiana – and these areas of Michigan: St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Buchanan, Niles, Three Oaks, New Buffalo, Harbert, Bridgeman, Stevensville, Watervliet, Berrien Springs, Dowagiac, Marcellus, Cassopolis, Decatur, Vandalia, Constantine, White Pigeon, Galien and Edwardsburg.
Everett business owner seeks expansion with USL sports ownership group
EVERETT — A professional soccer team in Everett could kick-off with local ownership, according to Everett Mayor, Cassie Franklin. Franklin […]
Cass County Mental Health Initiative is shining light on suicide prevention awareness
Cass County Mental Health Initiative shines light on the community and those that are struggling with mental health
Moment of Science: Cassowary headgear glows under UV light, study finds
Shedding some light on a very large bird! Dan Smith shows how ultraviolet light may play a role in helping cassowaries communicate.
Lady A’s Charles Kelley Reveals Rare Blood Cancer Diagnosis After ‘Random’ Health Concern Sparked Testing
The singer shared the “hard news” with his wife, Cassie Kelley, by his side.
Moment of Science: Cassowary headgear glows under UV light, study finds
Shedding some light on a very large bird! Dan Smith shows how ultraviolet light may play a role in helping cassowaries communicate.
The ice blasting from Saturn's moon Enceladus is stranger than scientists realized
Enceladus may naturally separate and concentrate chemicals from its hidden ocean as droplets slowly freeze and shatter on their way into space. The process could explain Cassini’s puzzling ice-grain chemistry while giving future spacecraft a powerful advantage in searching for organic compounds and clues to life.
What Sarah makes before Burundi wakes: the business of cassava leaves | D+C
Every morning before dawn, Sarah is already carrying into Bujumbura cassava leaves she can process and sell. Her small business shows how informal work provides women with not only income they can control themselves, but also greater independence.
Man Utd complete signing of young midfielder
Manchester United have completed the signing of highly-rated youngster Karim Cassim following his departure from Manchester City.The 17-year-old midfielder has made the move across Manchester after le...
Baptist Health Baptist Hospital Completes Phase 1 of Lake Pavilion Renovation
(l-r) Dr. Larry Spiegelman, Medical Director of Women’s Health Care; Rachel Evers, AVP of Nursing, Baptist Hospital; Cassandra Pitter, Director of Nursing Services Baptist Health celebrated the completion of the first phase of a $120 million transformation of Baptist Health Baptist Hospital’s Lake Pavilion, a multi-phase renovation project designed to enhance the experience of care […]
No. 13 Penn State vs. Wisconsin: Game Preview
The Nittany Lions open up Big Ten play against the Badgers after a 3-0 start. Penn State (3-0, 0-0) vs. Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) Kickoff: 5 p.m., Beaver Stadium, State College, PA The Betting Line: Penn State -9.5 (Fanduel) TV: Peacock, 5 p.m., Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Matt Cassel (analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline) Weather: A nice day with highs in the upper […]
Gina Prince-Bythewood's son honored for saving a woman from stabbing
'Children of Blood and Bone' director Gina Prince-Bythewood's son Cassius Bythewood has been honored with a hero award by Miami Police after he saved a woman from a brutal stabbing attack.
Armand Hammer's private art collection arrives at Sotheby's L.A.
Hammer Museum founder Armand Hammer's private art collection will go up for auction after a preview exhibition at Sotheby's L.A. Works include Mary Cassatt's "Summertime" and Edgar Degas' "Trois danseuses."
CASAA research event focuses on addiction science
The Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions (CASAA) hosts its annual research day on Friday, Nov. 6, as part of The University of New Mexico's Research and Discovery Week.
Man and Woman Accused of Stealing Gold from Wiscasset Business
A man and woman from New York allegedly stole gold from a Wiscasset business as part of an international theft ring.
Grad Takes Her Passion for Sports Media to the NFL
Cedarville graduate Cassandra Pietruszka is pursuing her dream of sports journalism as a Cleveland Browns social content intern. From Cedarville athletics to...
'R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2' Launches At TIFF Market, Details Revealed
'R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2' Launches At TIFF Market, Details Revealed With Cassandra Peterson AKA 'Elvira Mistress Of The Dark' Joining Cast.
What's the 411?
We remember jazz great Cassandra Wilson, who died last week surrounded by family and friends. She was 70.
Charlton Athletic sign Swedish forward Korhonen
Charlton Athletic have completed the signing of Swedish forward Cassandra Korhonen.The Addicks announced news of the deal via a post on their official club website this afternoon.The 28-year-old joins...
Mid-Coast Energy Systems Celebrates 50 Years of Business
Many drivers on Route 1 in Damariscotta recognize the large white renovated barn as they drive toward Wiscasset. The building is home to Mid-Coast Energy Systems, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Opinion | Dear A.I. Companies: This Is Why America Hates You (and What You Can Do About It)
We won’t get fooled again.
The Lucas Museum's approach to curation courts controversy
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is challenging art-world hierarchies by placing commercial art, comics and pop culture works in conversation with pieces by Frida Kahlo, Mary Cassatt, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh and more.
Elvira joins “R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2” as mysterious witch — See the first look (exclusive)
The Mistress of the Dark, a.k.a. Cassandra Peterson, will play a character named...Cassandra.
Donald Trump threatens to halt Canadian Bombardier sales to US
Cheryl Cassoni reports on President Trump's threat to halt Canadian airplane maker Bombardier's sales to the US. Vogel Group's Samir Kapadia analyzes the trade pressure campaign and its political stakes in battleground states.
Bears season preview: Health, roster battles and a tough schedule
FOX Chicago's Cassie Carlson discusses the Bears’ season opener, remaining roster questions and whether the team can match last year’s success.
D’Amico-Percassi incident to be investigated by Prosecutor’s Office
Roma-Atalanta didn’t end at the final whistle. Tensions continued in the tunnel and later in the Monte Mario stand, where particularly heated exchanges erupted between Nerazzurri CEO Luca Percassi a...
Marshall Health performs first roboticassisted shoulder replacement surgery in WV
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall Health Network Orthopaedic Surgeon John J. Jasko, M.D., performed West Virginia’s first robotic arm-assisted shoulder replacement surgery using Mako SmartRobotics this week. Known as Mako Shoulder, […]
Cass Tech (MI) touchdown reception named USA TODAY Sports Play of the Week
The touchdown connection was one of many touchdowns Cass Tech scored in its season-opener.
NASA PICASSO Awards
NASA has made 10 new awards through the Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations (PICASSO) program.
Sony's PlayStation disc plant is losing 10 percent of its volume in 2028, not 90
Sony’s PlayStation disc plant is losing 10 percent of its volume in 2028, not 90 Sony won’t license disc pressing to anyone else, Microsoft does, and a former PlayStation boss thinks that’s the whole problem. When Sony DADC chief Dietmar Tanzer spoke with an Austrian broadcaster in July about PlayStation disc production at the Thalgau plant, a number of press outlets misunderstood the report, writing that production would fall to a tenth of current levels. It won’t. Sony DADC confirmed to Game this week that the figure is a 10 percent decline, not a decline to 10 percent. “To clarify and avoid any misleading information: in that statement Dietmar anticipated an overall product volume decline by 10 percent, not a decline down to 10 percent,” a spokesperson with Sony DADC told Game. That figure covers 2028. Tanzer didn’t put a number on the years after, and the spokesperson declined to comment further. What we do know is that on July 1, PlayStation announced that physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028 and that the transition has no impact on games that have already released in disc format or will be releasing in disc format prior to that month. “So, there will be reorders going to the market after January 2028,” the Sony DADC spokesperson said. “For details around that I would ask you to liaise with the PR team from PlayStation, as we can’t speak or comment on their behalf.” PlayStation officials did not respond to questions about reorders or other disc-related matters. But I did recently speak with Shawn Layden, Game Industry Strategic Advisor and former chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios, who called a future without physical PlayStation discs “depressing, but solvable.” then added, “I think.” The chief hurdle to third-party manufacturing of collector’s editions or any other version of a PlayStation game disc is that Sony owns the proprietary process to press those discs, Layden said. “And unless they decide or determine a way to license that to some of these bespoke disc manufacturers, there’s no way to make it happen,” he said. Layden was careful to add that he understands the concept but doesn’t have “line of sight on the particulars.” “Depressing but solvable, I think.” — Shawn Layden Microsoft already licenses replication to outside plants. Xbox discs are pressed by manufacturers Microsoft certifies as Authorized Replicators, a term defined in its publisher agreements, with the approved list set at the company’s sole discretion and Microsoft retaining the right to halt manufacture. The structure is still in place today: publishers select an Authorized Replicator in Partner Center and submit a bill of materials created with a Microsoft representative. Sony, by contrast, presses PlayStation discs through Sony DADC, its own manufacturing subsidiary. No one I spoke with said they were in discussions with Sony about doing that, and PlayStation hasn’t responded to questions about whether it would be open to a licensing deal. There is an obvious reason Sony might not want to. Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad pointed it out on the day of the announcement: it’s a platform-led decision, he wrote, designed to cut costs, eliminate the resale market, and drive all revenue through the PlayStation Store. The math is not subtle. On a $70 third-party game sold through the PlayStation Store, Sony keeps $21. Sold at retail, Ahmad says, it earns about half that. Licensing disc replication to an outside manufacturer might not be worth it. And even if it were, it seems unlikely that such a deal would come from boutique companies like iam8bit, which sells collector’s editions of video games. “We would absolutely love to find a way forward to continue making physical PlayStation games,” said Jon Gibson, co-owner and co-creative director of the company. “We are big believers in giving humans the option to truly own media. If we can play a role in helping make that a reality for the future of PlayStation games, count iam8bit in!” If it were to happen, it would most likely be with a company like Conectiv Supply Chain Solutions, a Memphis-based manufacturer of optical discs and vinyl records that also runs third-party logistics, fulfillment and distribution for packaged media. The company, which was formed in 2025 when Los Angeles private equity firm Variant Equity Advisors purchased Vantiva’s Supply Chain Solutions division, traces its lineage back to Technicolor. When it sold the division, Vantiva described the business as having served video game creators for more than 25 years. Conectiv is also buying, not shrinking. Last month it acquired SDS, the distributor for Universal and Warner Bros. home entertainment, consolidating those studios’ packaged-media pipeline from pressing plant to retail shelf. I reached out to Conectiv and its CEO, but haven’t heard back. Layden pointed to music and books in our discussion about the ongoing value of physical media. “No one ever saw the comeback of cassette tape,” he said. “And vinyl didn’t so much come back. The flame went down, the fire’s dying, but the ember was always there, and it just kind of came back. Much like the book business. We thought we’d all be on Kindles right now. “I believe that physical media is crucial and important. One of the things that makes us gamers, one of the core game mechanics, going back to the beginning of time, is collecting stuff. “Did you get all the diamonds in Crash Bandicoot? Did you get all the stars in Mario? And we like to collect our games. And we have a game shelf. And we put all our boxes up there. And if you’re super hardcore, when you buy a game, you buy two copies, right? One stays in the shrink wrap, and you play the other one. What happens to that important cultural part of the gaming world? You know, we buy the steelbook and the three-disc Final Fantasy set and the figurine and, you know, you can’t download any of that. “What happens to that?” And Layden believes it shouldn’t have been a revenue question for PlayStation. “This was a core thing to the experience of our most devoted fans,” he said. “Yeah, it’s fan service. Why would we take that away? Well, we can’t afford to. It’s already 120 bucks, you know, limited edition special purchase onyx box version of whatever, and those sell at a higher rate than the box selling at $69.99 does. So yeah, the market has said they will continue to buy them. You’re just saying you just don’t want to make them anymore.” Layden said he was recently talking with someone about these sorts of business decisions and how they’re made. Too often, he said, it’s all about the financials and nothing else. “OK, we can do this and save this much money, or we can invest this to look at that outcome, or we can do this and have this happen over there, or move this team to Sri Lanka,” he said. “But each one of those, someone also has to have a ledger there saying, ‘OK, what is the brand impact from that move?’ “Iif you can’t resell it, do you really own it?” — Shawn Layden “If we do that, dollars and cents work out. I get it. That’s just math. But what’s the brand impact? Are people going to say, ‘Good move, you guys?’ Or are they going to say, ‘We hate you guys. Quit doing that.’ And sometimes they say, ‘We hate you.’ Then you take a note and say, OK, how much of that can we live with? How much ‘we hate you’ is OK. And when does it go over the line? “I see a lot of companies making decisions which, objectively speaking, I don’t know what the dollar end of that was for you, Mr. Company, but your brand value just dropped 30 percent. So I hope it was worth it.” Of course, shifting to a digital-only model for games raises other issues beyond simply wanting to collect. The biggest is ownership. Layden pointed out that once you go to a streaming-only or download-only model, it’s just a digital footprint on a hard drive. “What does ownership mean anymore?” he said. “It’s a genuine question. Well, in fact, it’s not even a question anymore. It’s like you are shifting the model from ownership to accessibility. “And what’s always been true, which people forget, is you’ve never been able to sell your iTunes library. And you can’t sell your PlayStation download library. So if you can’t resell it, do you really own it?” The touching tribute found in the credits for Star Wars Zero Company. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Interview and Hands-On with a Minoan Masterpiece Star Wars Zero Company hands-on: Attack Astromechs, permadeath, and delightfully fatal Rube Goldberg tactics Control Resonant opens up as you get stronger — and as characters start trusting you
9 Cassette Tapes From The '80s Worth a Small Fortune
Check your old box of cassette tapes. Some tapes cost a few dollars in the 1980s, but are now worth a lot of cash. Here are some of the most valuable ones.
Senate Health Panel Chairman Voices Strong Reservations About F.D.A. Nominee
Senator Bill Cassidy said Dr. Heidi Overton’s role in President Trump’s executive order on vaccines last week was “almost disqualifying.”
Marvel Cosmic Invasion reeals Siege of Castle Doom DLC
Today, Dotemu and Tribute Games unveiled brand new Siege of Casstle Doom DLC for Marvel Cosmic Invasion. The first piece of art can be found above. The DLC will feature a brand new game mode along with two new playable characters. Unsurprisingly, the infamous Doctor Doom will be central to that mode. With the Avengers: Doomsday movie coming up, it...
Trump’s vaccine order is counterproductive and ‘wrong on so many levels,’ GOP lawmaker says
GOP Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy called President Donald Trump’s new vaccine order to separate injections for measles, mumps and rubella “wrong on so many levels.”
Phillies’ Trea Turner Exits Twins Game With Injury
The Philadelphia Phillies saw shortstop Trea Turner leave due to a potential injury in their 9-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. Paul Cassella of MLB.com reports that Turner fouled a ball off his right knee.Cassella notes there could be some element of precaution, given the score. The Phillies led 8-1 going into Turner’s at-bat, but […] The post Phillies’ Trea Turner Exits Twins Game With Injury appeared first on HEAVY.
Essentia Health partners with United Way of Cass-Clay to prepare students for upcoming school year through annual School Supply Drive
Essentia Health was proud to once again support and sponsor the 28th annual United Way of Cass-Clay School Supply Drive and to serve as the drive's
Scientists thought Titan was hiding a global ocean beneath its frozen crust. But a 2025 reanalysis of Cassini data points to something stranger instead — a roughly 380-kilometre-thick layer of slushy ice, close to melting and likely threaded with pockets of liquid water that could reach 20°C near the rocky interior.
A 2025 Cassini reanalysis measures a tidal lag that favors a warm, partly melted high-pressure ice layer over Titan's long-assumed global ocean.
Couple turns passion for helicopters into a national business that’s anchored in Detroit
Cassandra and Sergio Troiani turned a hobby flying helicopters into a national aviation experience company — and they just anchored it in Detroit.
Fault lines for both parties emerge after Michigan’s primaries: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Bill Cassidy provides crucial support for Todd Blanche.
Sen. Bill Cassidy rebukes Katie Couric for 'demeaning' Trump health nominee in fiery exchange
PhillyGoat lets you wear home team pride for all Philly sports
PhillyGoat is an apparel brand that pays homage to the founders' belief that the city of Philadelphia is the 'greatest of all time'. Brothers Ryan, Brett, and Patrick Cassidy were born in Philly and raised in Delco, and share a lifelong love of sports.
GOP Sen. Cassidy says he supports Blanche for attorney general
The Louisiana senator announced his support on the Senate floor
Cassidy backs Blanche for attorney general, clearing way for confirmation
‘Devastating Blow’: Special session unlikely, but BWCA outfitters still plead for fire relief
Small businesses that cater to canoeists and visitors say they need wildfire aid even though Gov. Walz suggests a special session is unlikely.
ACC, AMC Team wins Department of War small business awards
The Army Materiel Command Office of Small Business Programs team, which features Army Contracting Command personnel Gherin Fracasso, Anthony Piccolo, and Suzanne Anderson from ACC-New Jersey, earned several Department of War and Department of the Army Small Business Awards for their achievements in Fiscal Year 2025 during a ceremony at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.
Business journalism studies took her to the White House | UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
The story by UNC Hussman alumni Brennan Doherty ’19 and video by John Roberts ’16 (M.A.) was originally published on unc.edu. This story is part of a four-part series on Carolina alumni working in Washington, D.C. Soon after her 2015 graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill, Megan Cassella was an intern for the Reuters news agency, eagerly awaiting and prepping for a special assignment. “Every now and then they needed an intern to run over to the White House last minute,” Cassella said. “You have to send your information the night before, so I started proactively sending my information to the White House every single night to be able to go the next day if they ever needed an intern.” Since then, she’s made many return trips to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in a career that’s included roles at Reuters, Politico, Barron’s and now CNBC, where she works as an on-air Washington correspondent. A longtime newswriter, Cassella made the move to TV in 2024, appearing on broadcasts multiple times daily to report on the biggest political and business stories. But the keys to doing a good job — knowing how to research, asking insightful questions, building relationships and explaining complex topics to a broad audience — remain the same. Did you know: Outside of the state of North Carolina, the Washington region is home to the largest concentration of Tar Heel alumni in the country. Cassella’s time as a Tar Heel was crucial in sharpening those skills, both in the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and through roles at student-run publications like The Daily Tar Heel. She excelled in Carolina’s business journalism program with former professor Chris Roush, which led to an internship at The Charlotte Observer and helped Cassella find her journalistic niche. A data journalism course with Associate Professor Ryan Thornburg taught her how to find stories in numbers, and former professor Paul O’Connor’s reporting class took Cassella to the North Carolina Capitol weekly, where she gained invaluable experience interviewing politicians. “Those hands-on experiences that Carolina gave me really kept my interest and have really benefited me since I’ve been up here in D.C.,” said Cassella. “I have UNC to thank for the fact that I even went into business journalism in the first place.” Megan Cassella ’15 “You’ve got to thrive on adrenaline in this job. You’ve got to do well with last-minute changes, with running by the seat of your pants.” Megan Cassella ’15 ‘There’s nothing else like it’ In recent months, Cassella has reported live from the G7 Summit in Geneva, covered the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran war and followed changes to trade policy, including tariffs. “Anything in this realm that influences Wall Street, I’ll be covering,” Cassella said. Her working hours are long and variable. After waking up, Cassella immediately checks her phone to see what news broke overnight. By 8:15 a.m., she usually learns which newscasts she’ll be on, and then she heads to the newsroom, White House or wherever her assignment is. “We want you in the 9 a.m. show and the 11, and then the 3 o’clock show wants you, too,” Cassella said, referring to a hypothetical day. If Cassella gets an exclusive or major news breaks, she might be told, “We want that on TV right now.” Within five minutes, she’d be expected to get to the camera, figure out what to say and deliver the news to a live audience. “It’s exciting. It’s nerve-wracking,” Cassella said. “But there’s nothing else like it.” A well-rounded education Cassella grew up in Maryland, the youngest of four kids. Her oldest brother, Brian Cassella ’05, attended Carolina, became a photojournalist and recently won a Pulitzer Prize. She remembers visiting campus as a young child and loving it. “I just always wanted to go,” she said, and that desire grew when she, like her brother, gravitated toward journalism. But it wasn’t just the journalism school that drew Cassella to Carolina. “It was also the whole liberal arts curriculum,” she said. “Even though I always wanted to be a journalist, I got to college, and I sort of felt I had to think about other things. I had to explore my options and see if that’s what I really wanted.” Did you know: In April UNC-Chapel Hill opened its Carolina in the Capital office in Washington. She combined her journalism schooling with a global studies major and a history minor. That broad range of academic experiences in Chapel Hill molded her, preparing Cassella for a career that’s taken her to the highest levels of political journalism and inside the Oval Office. “When you sit back and remember you’re actually sitting inside the White House and asking questions of the president, it’s a cool feeling,” Cassella said. “No matter who is in office, no matter what administration or party, it’s a privilege to be there.” Megan Cassella on… Being a Tar Heel in Washington: I run into Tar Heels all the time. My husband’s a Tar Heel. We actually met here in Washington, not at Carolina, even though we were the same class. Probably most of our friends are still Tar Heels. Even up here in D.C., we all get together for games and March Madness. And through work, there’s Tar Heels all over the place. It’s often used as a connection. Favorite Franklin Street spot: When we go back, our first stop is always IP3. That’s more my husband’s doing than mine. In college, I was a huge Spanky’s fan. Felt like it was a classic spot. May it rest in peace. Advice to journalism students: Reps, reps, reps! Nothing beats the experience you’ll gain by simply starting to do the work — asking the questions, reporting and writing the stories, doing the TV hits. When you can, go places in person. Talk to more people than you think you’ll need. Read as much as you can, from different sources and on different topics. If you’re not sure how to start your story, that usually means you need more reporting. When you’re not sure, ask.
Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy call for more information on Iran conflict
Both senators say the U.S. should not withdraw from the conflict, but they say President Donald Trump’s administration should give the public more information about why it is happening and what the objectives are.
Amendment 68: New Opportunity: D.8 Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a large-aperture ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared observatory concept recommended by the National Academies of
It looks like Sen. Bill Cassidy is hurting public health again
The Louisiana senator and physician has pledged support for Trump's nominee for CDC director based on assurances on vaccines. He did the same with RFK Jr.
Florida State to Rely on Revamped Ground Game in 2026
With star production departing, the Seminoles turn to SEC transfer Quintrevion Wisner and returning speedsters to ignite a revamped ground game behind an experienced offensive line.
BLM Approves Projects to Improve Forest Health and Reduce Wildfire Risk in the Fall River Valley
ALTURAS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Applegate Field Office has approved two forest resilience projects in the Fall River Valley, aimed at improving forest health, reducing wildfire risk, and strengthening community preparedness. Work on both projects is expected to begin in fall 2026.
Cassidy shifts on CDC nominee, citing change to disputed autism page
But the page’s core claim still suggests a long debunked link between vaccines and autism.
Cassidy to Trump public health nominee: ‘Why would you repeat those damn lies?’
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health Committee, grew angry with President Trump’s nominee to lead the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) during his…
PHL’s Cassie Schmid Earns Philadelphia Business Journal Corporate Leadership Award
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) Chief Strategy Officer Cassie Schmid has been named a recipient of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2026 Corporate Leadership Award, recognizing the region’s most accomplished C-suite executives.
Independent mechanics lose business as cars get more expensive to fix
Car owners and independent mechanics, like those at Cass Auto, are frustrated and losing business as vehicles become more expensive to repair.
The Rare Pyrex Bowl Produced For Only A Year That Collectors Dream Of Finding At Thrift Stores
Pyrex’s Black Tulip casserole dish is a rare find for thrifters because its pattern of black flowers and pinwheels was only produced from 1956 to 1957.
Tribes hope Farm Bill can feed more people, preserve Indigenous culture
HOPKINTON, R.I. — At Ashawaug Farm in southwest Rhode Island, Dawn and Cassius Spears preserve their Indigenous knowledge of agriculture through the cultivation and keeping of three Narragansett heritage crops:
Manchester City academy talent makes permanent move to Cardiff City
Man City academy player Cass Machin has joined Cardiff City on a permanent deal this summerThe midfielder featured in Man City’s U16 squad last seasonMachin is expected to be a part of Cardiff City�...
NASA celebrates Fourth of July with some cosmic fireworks
The release also includes new sonifications of red, white, and blue nebulae and galaxies.
Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
New games sold for PlayStation consoles will only be available digitally and won’t be sold on discs effective January 2028, Sony has announced. The move applies to all PlayStation games released from that point on, including those made by Sony and those released by third parties. The PlayStation group calls the change “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” according to a PlayStation blog post reviewed by Game File in advance of its publication. As movies, TV and music have shifted from physical media to an age of downloads and streaming, Sony’s move could speed the demise of physical media in a gaming. The industry has offered consumers games via cartridges, cassettes, floppy discs, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays across a 50-year stretch. Sony has been reporting to investors in recent years that PlayStation games have been increasingly purchased as downloads, not as discs. The most recent figures show nearly four in five purchases of full games for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were purchased digitally in the past year. Stats like that may cause today’s news to carry an air of the inevitable. But Sony’s declaration for 2028 is still likely to produce a shock, as the biggest gaming platform on the planet that uses game discs leaves them behind. Discs going away, but the fate of game boxes is unknown Sony is committing to still selling games in physical retailers even after they drop discs in 2028. Just how those games will be sold—in boxes with codes inside, as cards marked with digital redemption codes—is unclear. Digital games will also continue to be sold in the online PlayStation Store. New games released for PlayStation consoles prior to January 2028 will be unaffected by the policy change, Sony says. That means the PS5 games of 2027, be they a new Madden, a new God of War, a new Call of Duty, a new Sly Cooper (one can dream?), would still potentially be offered on disc. PlayStation 6 implications Sony’s timeline for a transition to a no-disc era will also spin up more speculation about the timing and configuration of Sony’s next-generation console, the probable PlayStation 6. “This pretty much guarantees that PS6 won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest,” Piers Harding-Rolls, senior games research analyst at Ampere Analysis tells Game File. Harding-Rolls also concludes from today’s news that “the base version of a PS6 will not include a physical media drive,” as Sony looks to keep costs down on the device. Sony itself is saying nothing about the PS6 today: not its timing, nor how it might or might not support internal or external disc drives in order to run disc-based PS4 and PS5 games, should the console be backwards compatible. The many signs this was coming Industry support for games being released on physical media has been waning. As has consumer interest in them. PC games effectively went all-digital years ago, thanks to the popularity of playing games through Steam and other digital storefronts. The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that kept much of the global population home helped shift shopping patterns toward downloads. Sony’s own data shows PlayStation game downloads being an uncommon consumer choice a decade ago and now becoming the norm. On consoles, physical media has been in such decline that Sony and Microsoft both launched their current gen Xbox Series and PS5 consoles in 2020 with cheaper versions that lacked disc drives. In early 2024, Phil Spencer, then head of Xbox, told me that ““[w]e ship games physically and digitally, and we’re really just following what the customers are doing.” He added that the game industry had become an outlier in still supporting disc-based entertainment, even as movies and TV have bailed on discs in favor of downloads and steaming: “Gaming consoles themselves have kind of become the last consumer electronic device that has a drive. And this is a real issue, just in terms of the number of manufacturers that are actually building drives and the cost associated with those. And when you think about cogs that we’re going to go put in a console—and as you have fewer suppliers and fewer buyers—the cost of the drive does have an impact.” Last year, the Nintendo’s Switch 2, which uses cartridges rather than discs, introduced the concept of game-key cards, which are physical media that contain no game, just a prompt for a download. Even disc-based games aren’t what they once were, now frequently containing just stubs of games rather than the whole thing. The website Does It Play has tested over 3000 games and found that, for example, that the disc version of this year’s hit 007: First Light, only contained the game’s first mission, with the rest needing to be downloaded. Beyond all that, last week brought the news that Grand Theft Auto VI, likely the biggest game launch this decade, will debut for PS5 and Xbox Series without a disc-based version. Today’s big news comes to you for free. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and ensure more of my work is possible, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Discs helped define PlayStation However the trends in entertainment may be going, it is still remarkable to see PlayStation ditch discs given their importance in PlayStation history: In the late 1990s, the first PlayStation’s support for games on relatively cheap CD-ROMs instead of traditional game cartridges allowed the upstart console to outmaneuver cartridge-based systems from Nintendo and Sega, as it drove down game prices down in the process. (The cheaper disc format even prompted Final Fantasy VII maker Square to taunt Nintendo in a magazine ad, saying that if the game was “available on cartridge, it’d retail for around $1200.”) PlayStation devices often doubled as machines for watching movies and TV on the latest disc-based formats. In the late 2000s, for example, Sony’s pricy PS3 gained traction as a go-to device for playing then-novel Blu-Ray discs. In 2013, Sony effectively roasted the digital game-sharing restrictions proposed by rival Microsoft for its upcoming Xbox One console by showing how games could be shared for the then-upcoming PS4. In a 21-second clip that has over 20 million views on YouTube, one PlayStation executive simply handed a game box—presumably with disc inside—to another, who said “thanks.” Sony’s possible motivations The PlayStation announcement today cites “consumer preferences” and a shift away from discs among “the broader entertainment industry,” but does not delve into the decision-making process that brought Sony to this point. Sony is not discussing the economics of this move (I asked!), but there are a number of potential factors: Abandoning discs will spare Sony the cost of manufacturing and shipping them, which analysts and industry veterans I spoke to said could account for $1 or so of a game’s retail price. For first-party games, that’s direct savings for Sony, though the amount is limited by the winnowing percentage of people who were even buying the disc-based versions. For third-party games, Sony could pass the savings on to partners or just retain the better profit margin for themselves. As the 2024 comments from Phil Spencer alluded to, leaving discs behind could mean leaving disc-drives behind, allowing Sony to produce consoles more cheaply. Switching to digital-only for games could diminish the risks of copies of new games leaking. It would also seemingly make second-hand sales of used games impossible, pushing more people to buy their own copies of games. These economic benefits for Sony could be boons for the games industry overall, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls tells Game File. Among other things, it could free publishers and retailers from having to worry about securing an inventory of game discs when trying to sell games, he noted. “If there is a way to streamline the business of games retail, I generally think it’s a good thing for the industry as it removes unnecessary costs,” Harding-Rolls said. “This will help offset pressure on margins from other directions – development and staffing costs for example.” Should the industry shift from game boxes that contain discs to smaller, cheaper game cards, Harding-Rolls said, that reduces pressure on publishers and retailers. “The advantage of everything going digital for the industry is that sales can be tracked much more easily and there is less commercial risk for publishers wanting to continue selling via retail,” he said. The shift to no discs will also likely impact game development timelines, as developers will no longer face the same urgency to have a build ready to submit to PlayStation for the production of a disc, as industry experts noted around GTA VI’s no-disc news last week. Instead, projects may gain weeks of development time, in the event delivery deadlines for platform approval move closer to release date. Preservationists’ likely worries While millions of gamers have shifted to digital, there are still people who associate game discs—and only game discs—with actual ownership of PlayStation games. That portion of the gaming community spoke up last week about wanting to buy a version of GTA VI that they could hold in their hands, could lend to a friend and could potentially pop into a well-preserved PS5 console three decades from now and still see it run. Such gamers didn’t want to worry that they’d merely purchased a digital copy that could lose access to the game if, say, the company behind the game someday turns of the servers that transmit downloadable copies. Digital copies of games are inherently less long-lasting, because consumers aren’t actually buying a game (on a disc), just buying access to the game. The fine print in online gaming shops notes this, as does a recent law that went on the books in California in 2025. That lasw requires game publishers doing business in the state to refrain from words like “sell” when offering digital copies of games, unless they explicitly tell consumers that what’s being sold isn’t the game itself but a potentially revocable license to access it. A Sony spokesperson noted to Game File that “[w]ith all digital content, including games, movies, and music, players are purchasing a personal license for non-commercial use.” Regarding the fears of PlayStation games being lost to time in an all-digital era, the rep also noted that Sony remains “committed to delivering experiences from past generations to the new platforms our players are using.” They noted that PlayStation has used emulation and remasters to keep offering its classic games to modern gamers. It’s true that many consumers have become accustomed to not having physical copies of new music albums or movies, but the relative precariousness of digital copies of games is in fact being highlighted today by…. Sony’s other big announcement: the upcoming closure of the PS3 and PS Vita online stores Sony said today that it will be closing the online marketplaces for its PlayStation 3 console and PS Vita handheld in most countries in July 2027 (sooner elsewhere: August 2026 for the PS3 store Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua; late 2026 for PS3 in other Latin American countries and the Middle East). “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming,” Sony said in its announcement, saying the move “was not an easy decision for us to make.” Sony said that PS3 and Vita marketplaces “are no longer able” to support modern commerce systems, prompting a “need” to close the shops and focus on more modern PlayStation platform stores. The news may spark some deja vu. Sony announced back in March 2021 that it planned to take the PS3, Vita and PlayStation Portable marketplaces offline that summer. The move would have caused some 2,000 digital-only games to become unavailable for new purchasers, according to a VGC analysis at the time. Fans complained loudly. By April 2021, Sony walked back the PS3 and Vita shop closures, with then PlayStation boss Jim Ryan saying “it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here.” This time around, Sony is giving a longer notice period in most regions. The closure of those stores is still likely to cut off access to new purchases of digital-only PS3 and Vita games. The current PlayStation 5 marketplace sells PS5 and PS4 games, as well as a selection of PS1 and PS2 games. It does not sell PS3 games, because games for that platform can’t run on the system (some are offered via a PlayStation Plus streaming option). Vita games also aren’t sold via PS5. Sony says digitally purchased PS3 and Vita games will be downloadable after the stores’ shutdowns “for the foreseeable future.” Sony’s move contrasts with Microsoft’s Xbox platform, which continues to sell and support games from all four Xbox console generations. But it puts it in line with Nintendo, which disabled purchases in the marketplace for its Wii console (a contemporary of the PS3) in 2019. Nintendo discontinued purchases in the online shop for its 3DS portable (a contemporary of the Vita) in 2023. The big questions about Sony’s 2028 post-disc era Will Microsoft follow suit, ending support for new disc-based games on Xbox platforms and therefore all game consoles, too? Whether Microsoft does or not, will third-parties that can no longer release games on discs for PlayStation, simply ditch the disc options across the board? Given the GTA VI no-disc experiment launching this November, will more game publishers decide to forgo disc-based offerings even in 2027? How will no-disc PS5/6 games be packaged and sold in brick-and-mortar retail stores? What becomes of game sharing in an all-digital era? Will Sony modify its current set-up, which currently allows some sharing of digital games across a pair of consoles, to allow more casual lending? (See for example, Nintendo’s year-old system of letting players lend a digital game to another player in a “family group” for up to 14 days.) Will there be a version of a PS6 with a disc drive? Or will a drive be offered as an add-on? And how will gamers who want to retain access to PS4/PS5 disc-based games react to whichever configurations Sony chooses to offer? What will the final disc-based PlayStation game be?
Holland & Knight Health Dose: June 30, 2026 | Insights
Senate Committee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Bill Cassidy released a discussion draft making changes to the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Senator Cassidy, a past RFK supporter, warns of secretary's impact on public health
The Louisiana Republican, who helped confirm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as health secretary, voiced concerns about his leadership in a Sunday CBS News interview.
Cassidy, fresh off a blowup with Trump, blasts RFK Jr.’s policies
The GOP senator said a “foundation of lies” had shaped Kennedy's health stances. He also accused Trump of treating Congress as an "appendage."
U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, endorsed by Trump, wins the GOP primary for Senate in Louisiana
Letlow, who was endorsed by Trump, defeated state Treasurer John Fleming in the two-candidate runoff after they finished ahead of Cassidy in the GOP primary May 16.
GOP Sen. Cassidy seeks to explains RFK Jr. confirmation vote for Health and Human Services
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in a Sunday inteview sought to explain his controversial vote to confirm Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as he said Kennedy is dug in on h…
Bill Cassidy accuses Trump of treating Congress as ‘merely an appendage’
Out-going Louisiana senator’s rebuke over Iran war is rare instance of a Republican politician standing up to Trump
Cassidy accuses RFK Jr. of building public health "upon a foundation of lies"
Trump gets the complete domination he wanted in Louisiana
Rep. Julia Letlow, his preferred candidate, won the GOP runoff for his longtime rival Bill Cassidy’s Senate seat.
Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow wins Louisiana Senate primary runoff
Letlow defeated state Treasurer John Fleming in the GOP runoff, NBC News projects. Incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy did not make the runoff.
Trump-backed Julia Letlow faces John Fleming in Louisiana GOP Senate runoff
U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, who was endorsed by Trump, and state Treasurer John Fleming are competing in the runoff. The two finished ahead of Sen. Bill Cassidy in the May 16 primary after Trump denounced the two-term senator, who voted to convict him following his 2021 impeachment.
After ousting Bill Cassidy, Donald Trump faces fresh test of his sway with GOP voters in Louisiana’s Senate runoff
Louisiana Republican voters already rejected an incumbent senator who was crossways with President Donald Trump. In a primary runoff on Saturday, they’ll decide whether to follow Trump’s lead in choosing a new nominee.
Letlow, Fleming face off for Cassidy's seat in Louisiana GOP Senate runoff
Live Results: Louisiana midterm primary runoffs
Louisiana Republicans will nominate a candidate for U.S. Senate in a primary runoff Saturday, six weeks after denying Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy a shot at a third term.
Downtown Largo could become an open-container entertainment district
Downtown Largo could allow open-container drinking, outdoor entertainment and live music under a proposed entertainment district.
Senate Republicans reject war powers resolution after Trump-Cassidy clash
The late-night vote came hours after a fractious meeting that included a shouting match with President Donald Trump over some senators’ opposition to the conflict.
‘He named names’: Trump’s Senate meeting explodes into shouting match over Iran
Trump's meeting with Senate Republicans devolved into a shouting match over Iran war powers, with Sen. Bill Cassidy confronting the president directly.
The 4 GOP senators who broke ranks and voted to block Trump from resuming Iran war
The president seethed at Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul after the war powers resolution passed, saying: "I will get it done, one way or the other."
Trump's Iran gamble divides GOP hawks and 'America First' conservatives over what victory looks like
Trump's Iran memorandum of understanding divides GOP as hawks like Cassidy and Cruz clash with allies over whether the deal surrenders leverage.
Essentia Health-Casselton Clinic to offer sports physical and immunization blitzes
Essentia Health will offer sports physical and immunization blitzes to area students in preparation for the 2026-27 school year.
Essentia Health-Casselton Clinic to offer sports physical and immunization blitzes
Essentia Health will offer sports physical and immunization blitzes to area students in preparation for the 2026-27 school year.
Scientists find a whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean that’s millions of years old
Scientists have documented a whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean with some carcasses dating back 5.3 million years, and it's supporting a thriving community of marine life.
A submersible ride revealed a vast whale graveyard. And it holds more than just bones
Researchers found a huge whale graveyard dating back millions of years, with fossils, modern carcasses and deep-sea scavengers, some of which may be new to science.
For 5 million years, whales have come to this place in the Indian Ocean to die
Graveyard discovered by Chinese team is Earth’s deepest and most extensive for whale fossils, carcasses and the ecosystems they support.
Sydney Sweeney hopes cut “Euphoria” pole-dancing scene is released: 'I put a lot of hard work into that'
The actress played Cassie on the HBO drama for all three seasons.
Sydney Sweeney hopes her cut 'Euphoria' pole-dancing scene is released: 'I put a lot of hard work into that'
Sydney Sweeney, who played Cassie on 'Euphoria,' says there was a pole-dancing scene that was cut. Here's why she was disappointed.