SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY

Search headlines

Find the stories shaping the conversation.

Search mode
Refine results
Active filters Keyword All time

Results for " counsel " 354 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle

School board candidates support more mental health care, differ on approach

Candidates for school boards around the state generally agreed with a new law that will require the hiring of more mental health counselors, but those responding to a survey said more resources will be needed, while some called for more parental involvement.

marylandmatters.org logo
Oct 23 • 2:22 AM EDT • Health • marylandmatters.org
Business consultant Kristie Blase takes engineer’s approach to corporate governance

A litigator with an early career background in engineering, corporate counseling attorney Kristie Blase has always been drawn to analyzing systems.

amny.com logo
Oct 22 • 5:15 PM EDT • Business • amny.com
Crowell & Moring Adds Veteran DOJ Health Care Litigator Jeff McSorley in Washington, D.C.

Jeff McSorley, a first-chair trial lawyer with 20 years of litigation experience including a decade as senior trial counsel in the DOJ Civil Division's Fraud Section, has joined Crowell & Moring's Health Care Group in Washington, D.C. He led more than 70 FCA investigations at DOJ, securing more than $500 million in recoveries for the United States.

crowell.com logo
Oct 22 • 4:15 PM EDT • Health • crowell.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (1%)
love
73%
wow
27%
Bellevue Counseling Program Ranked #1 in Nebraska

Bellevue University's Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program earned the No. 1 ranking among Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's programs in Nebraska in the 2027 rankings published by MastersinCounseling.org. The ranking recognizes Bellevue University's online, CACREP-accredited graduate program for preparing studen...

news.bellevue.edu logo
Oct 22 • 11:07 AM EDT • Health • news.bellevue.edu
More needs to be done to support student mental health

When it comes to mental health resources at the University of Miami, numbers to call, sexual assault hotlines, therapy appointments and other resources aren’t hard to find. On paper, UM is doing exactly what it should to provide students with mental health outlets. But this support needs to extend beyond a counseling building and a

themiamihurricane.com logo
Oct 21 • 8:02 AM EDT • Health • themiamihurricane.com
What Is Culinary Medicine? Bridging Nutrition, Cooking, and Health

Culinary medicine combines nutrition science with practical cooking education to help patients apply dietary advice and train healthcare professionals in nutrition counseling. Studies report improvements in cooking confidence and dietary behaviors, but evidence for sustained clinical benefits remains limited.

news-medical.net logo
Oct 20 • 5:13 AM EDT • Health • news-medical.net
😐 Neutral (0%)
Experts say election season political talk can affect mental health, relationships

Counselors recommend setting boundaries and leading with curiosity in conversations

kjct8.com logo
Oct 19 • 9:12 PM EDT • Health • kjct8.com
Experts say election season political talk can affect mental health, relationships

Counselors recommend setting boundaries and leading with curiosity in conversations

kjct8.com logo
Oct 19 • 9:12 PM EDT • Politics • kjct8.com
Toppenish School District receives $7.5 million federal grant to expand mental health services for students

The BriefThe Toppenish School District has been awarded up to $7.5 million through Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education), a federal grant administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).The grant will provide up to $1.5 million annually over five years to expand mental health services, strengthen substance use prevention and intervention, and improve access to support for students.District officials say the funding will help address identified gaps in services, particularly drug and alcohol counseling at the high school level, and will allow the district to build capacity for long-term mental health support.TOPPENISH, WASHINGTON — The Toppenish School District has been awarded up to $7.5 million through Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education), a federal grant administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to expand mental health services and substance use prevention for students.District officials said access to mental health resources has been limited, making it difficult for some students and families to get the support they need. The federal Project AWARE grant will help address those challenges by bringing schools and local healthcare providers together to better support students.The grant will provide up to $1.5 million annually over five years to expand mental health services, strengthen substance use prevention and intervention, and improve access to support for Toppenish students. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jeff Camero said the district is focused on coordinating with service providers in the area to work as a unified team."We made the awareness with the grant. But looking at all the service providers in the area and how can we all together work as a team?" Camero said.Camero said the district wants to use those resources to reach students earlier and provide more support for those struggling with their mental health. The district plans to address a range of mental health challenges, from anxiety and depression to youth suicide risk. Camero emphasized the importance of supporting students in grades eight through twelve, where suicide rates are a particular concern."Making sure from anxiety to depression, making sure that we can help support our students at those levels, but also the youth suicide risk, looking at that as a top in this area, in our grades, you know, eight, for example, eight through 12, looking at suicide rate and looking at how whether we look at the ACES or whatever program we're looking at, that's federal, how that connects and how we can better serve our students with this extra funding," Camero said.The funding will allow the district to bring in additional staff, including mental health and substance use specialists, to work directly with students and connect families with community resources. The district is already posting positions, including a director role, with additional positions expected to follow.District officials are also thinking beyond the grant's five-year timeline. Brittany Kaple, Director of Public Relations for the Toppenish School District, said the intent is to build capacity and establish connections that will sustain mental health services even after the grant funding ends."We do have the director position already posted, with some of our other positions following really close behind that. But the intent is to, you know, it's a five-year grant, so those positions would be funded for that five years. But there's also the intent to build capacity and make those connections so that at the end of the grant, when that money, you know, if that money is not renewed," Kaple said.As student mental health needs continue to evolve, access to drug and alcohol counseling has become an important priority for the district. Kaple said teachers and staff have been raising concerns about the need for more support, especially at the high school level."And that was something that was also an identified need by our high school staff when the superintendent met with them last school year. They said that that was a really great need, something that they felt was a gap in services that we were providing for our students. And so this is going to be one way to help support that need," Kaple said.The Toppenish School District says its goal is to ensure students and families have access to the support they need, both now and in the years ahead. Additional positions, including drug and alcohol counselors and family engagement specialists, are expected to be posted in the coming weeks. News Sunnyside City Council navigates 2027 budget planning Monique Garcia News "Dancing with the Stars" champion J.R. Martinez shares message of resilience during Central Washington visit Tyler Wargo News Toppenish, Mattawa educators honored at state Educator of the Year Awards Erin Wencl News Kennewick educator named 2027 Washington Teacher of the Year Erin Wencl News Voters to decide the next Yakima County Sheriff Monique Garcia ​COPYRIGHT 2026 BY APPLE VALLEY NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.

applevalleynewsnow.com logo
Oct 19 • 7:59 PM EDT • Health • applevalleynewsnow.com
Finding Hope and Peace Amid Political Division

By Dr. Michelle Connor HarrisExecutive DirectorSt. Raphael CounselingLast night I was talking with my 23-year-old son about this article on “hope and peace amid political burnout.” His response was, “If you want to talk about hope and peace, look at Zohran Mamdani.” I sighed internally and tried, probably unsuccessfully, to control my tendency to roll my eyes at the mention of the mayor of New York. Not because of the mayor or his policies, but more because of the way these discussions go with m

denvercatholic.org logo
Oct 19 • 10:00 AM EDT • Politics • denvercatholic.org
2026 In-House Counsel CLE Webinar Series presents, “Beyond Compliance: The New Era of Business and Human Rights”

Attendees will gain practical guidance on implementing human rights due diligence, managing supply chain risk, and aligning legal compliance with responsible business practices.

dentons.com logo
Oct 19 • 2:21 AM EDT • Business • dentons.com
Dispensaries, mental health facility, other projects planned in central Pa.

The medical-related projects include counseling centers, places to get medical marijuana and physical therapy cinics.

pennlive.com logo
Oct 18 • 5:56 AM EDT • Health • pennlive.com
6th annual Mental Health Awareness Walk in North Charleston Sat.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – On Solid Grounds, a local nonprofit counseling practice, will host its 6th annual Mental Health Awareness Walk on Saturday, October 17, at Park Circle in North…

counton2.com logo
Oct 16 • 3:19 PM EDT • Health • counton2.com
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.

yourlocalepidemiologistca.substack.com logo
Oct 16 • 10:32 AM EDT • Health • yourlocalepidemiologistca.substack.com
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

libn.com logo
Oct 16 • 8:53 AM EDT • Business • libn.com
FAU Receives $1.2M Grant to Expand Youth Mental Health Services

FAU’s College of Education has received a $1.2 million grant to launch OWLS-Fly, a three-year initiative expanding access to free, family-centered mental health services for children ages 6 to 17 and their families in Palm Beach County. The program will prioritize underserved families, including those with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while training graduate counseling students to address the mental health needs of youth with and without disabilities.

newswise.com logo
Oct 16 • 8:30 AM EDT • Health • newswise.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (14%)
love
71%
ahah
29%
Brooke, Hancock police partner with Ohio Valley Counseling for mental health training
wtov9.com logo
Oct 15 • 6:11 PM EDT • Health • wtov9.com
New Board Members and Leadership Team at OH Foundation

The Oswego Health Foundation has announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors, along with new officers who will lead the foundation as it continues its mission of strengthening healthcare in the communities served by Oswego Health. Joining the board are: [caption id=attachment_11136 align=alignleft width=180] Susan Brannan Cole[/caption] • Susan Brannan Cole. She is a public affairs, marketing and communications leader with more than 20 years of experience. She serves as regional manager of external affairs for National Grid in Central New York. Cole also brings significant healthcare communications experience, having spent several years at Upstate Medical University in media relations, digital strategy and public engagement. She previously held leadership roles in communications and government affairs at Novelis and Constellation in Oswego. A graduate of SUNY Oswego, she is passionate about strengthening Central New York communities and supporting initiatives that improve quality of life across the region. [caption id=attachment_11129 align=alignright width=150] Rich Baldwin[/caption] • Rich Baldwin. He serves as director of marketing and business development at King + King Architects, where he leads the firm’s marketing, communications and business development initiatives. Baldwin has remained actively involved in community and nonprofit organizations, including previously serving on the board of regents at Le Moyne College. He has also supported community initiatives through organizations including the Onondaga Historical Association and Father Champlin’s Guardian Angel Society. New leadership at the foundation are: • William W. “Bill” Crist will chair the Oswego Health Foundation. He brings more than 40 years of experience in education, from classroom teacher to superintendent of schools. He retired in 2023 from the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Syracuse and remains deeply engaged in the community through numerous nonprofit and volunteer boards. He also serves as chairman of the Sanctuary Advisory Board for the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. • Heather Sunser will serve as vice chair. Sunser is a financial services practice group leader at Barclay Damon LLP, where she focuses primarily on real estate law, institutional lending, land use and municipal compliance. A graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, she is also active in community service, volunteering with Vera House Legal Clinic, Habitat for Humanity and the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Onondaga County Bar Foundation. • Darcy Antonucci will be the foundation’s treasurer. Antonucci serves as comptroller for Broadwell Hospitality Group, overseeing the financial functions of nine growing corporations as well as the company’s administrative departments. She brings extensive experience in finance, human resources and business operations, along with a strong record of community leadership. Antonucci has served on the Compass Credit Union board of directors and is an active member of the Trinity Catholic School Board. She has also been involved with the Oswego Health Foundation Gala Committee since 2018. • Attorney Rachael A. Dator will serve as secretary. Dator serves as administrator of the Oswego County Assigned Counsel Program, where she oversees grant funding, budgeting and program operations. With more than a decade of legal experience, she has served as an assistant district attorney, court attorney and legal counsel to municipalities and social services organizations. Dator brings extensive knowledge of law, governance and nonprofit operations to her role with the foundation.

oswegocountybusiness.com logo
Oct 14 • 8:23 AM EDT • Business • oswegocountybusiness.com
Boosting children's mental health

Signs and symptoms of when you should consult your pediatrician or a mental health counselor.

wbay.com logo
Oct 14 • 7:18 AM EDT • Health • wbay.com
Ballard Partners expands global alliance with Dubai’s Farrant Group

'Together, we will give our clients seamless, coordinated counsel from Washington to the Gulf and beyond.'

floridapolitics.com logo
Oct 14 • 4:30 AM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
I grew my side gig into a $2M business after 20 years at IBM

Becky DeGrossa, 66, worked at IBM and then became a therapist before opening CounselingWise as a side gig. It's now her full-time, $2M business.

businessinsider.com logo
Oct 13 • 4:16 PM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
The House speaker’s wife runs a ministry for Hill staffers. Its funding is a mystery.

Kelly Johnson’s faith-based counseling services are the centerpiece of an organization that does not disclose its donors.

washingtonpost.com logo
Oct 13 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
Mental Health Monday: Taking take care of mental health

Therapist Amy Corwin with The Samaritan Counseling Center joined WSFA to discuss the important of mental health.

wsfa.com logo
Oct 12 • 2:07 PM EDT • Health • wsfa.com
Schoellkopfs expand support for IU Columbus mental health counseling program

More students and residents across South Central Indiana will have access to mental health counseling services and counselor training opportunities at Indiana University Columbus thanks to Tom and Barbara Schoellkopf.

therepublic.com logo
Oct 12 • 12:09 AM EDT • Health • therepublic.com
Insurance moves: XS Brokers, RLI and Starkweather & Shepley

They include a new managing partner and a new claim counsel head

insurancebusinessmag.com logo
Oct 11 • 6:41 PM EDT • Business • insurancebusinessmag.com
Annual Tulsa health fair offers free screenings, dental exams and mental health counseling

The Islamic Society of Tulsa held a community health fair on Saturday at its mosque.

fox23.com logo
Oct 10 • 6:43 PM EDT • Health • fox23.com
How students can find therapy and other mental health resources

About 70% of college students experienced a mental health concern in the past year, according to a 2026 national survey from United Healthcare. The University of Georgia Counseling and Psychiatric

redandblack.com logo
Oct 9 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • redandblack.com
Puppy Yoga is one of many ways CAPS supports SCSU health and wellness

Counseling and Psychologic Services hosted two Puppy Yoga sessions in Atwood Memorial Center last month, with over 60 students participating.

today.stcloudstate.edu logo
Oct 8 • 4:56 PM EDT • Health • today.stcloudstate.edu
‘Pizza with a Purpose’ donates all proceeds to suicide awareness, mental health programs

The fundraiser is in conjunction with Alger County Schools and will help fund counselors for schools in the area.

uppermichiganssource.com logo
Oct 8 • 4:40 PM EDT • Health • uppermichiganssource.com
RWJBarnabas Health Opens Sixth Food Farmacy and First in Southern Region

On September 8, 2026, RWJBarnabas Health opened the system’s sixth Food Farmacy at Monmouth Medical Center to provide patients with nutritious foods and individualized nutrition counseling from registered dietitians to support long-term health and well-being.

rwjbh.org logo
Oct 7 • 4:32 PM EDT • Health • rwjbh.org
University of Lynchburg to launch online Master of Science in Counseling programs

In January of 2027, the University will launch the online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Science in School Counseling programs.

lynchburg.edu logo
Oct 7 • 9:00 AM EDT • Science • lynchburg.edu
The people of UTC: Get to know Center for Wellbeing Director Lucy White

Lucy White is back at the UTC with a new role and the same goal of helping students take care of themselves. White, the new director of the Center for Wellbeing, previously worked at UTC in 2022 as assistant director for education and suicide prevention. After the grant-funded position ended, she spent three and a half years at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center counseling medical students and residents.

blog.utc.edu logo
Oct 7 • 8:03 AM EDT • Health • blog.utc.edu
WHO endorses lifestyle changes over GLP-1 drugs in child obesity fight

The World ‌Health Organization on Wednesday recommended diet, exercise and counseling over popular weight-loss drugs in its first global guidelines addressing rising obesity among younger children.

reuters.com logo
Oct 7 • 3:02 AM EDT • Health • reuters.com
Gov. Braun appoints new public access counselor after complaints mount

Former Bartholomew County Circuit Court Magistrate Judge Brittney Long has been named Indiana’s public access counselor, replacing attorney Jennifer Ruby, whose 18-month tenure in that job was marked by long

thestatehousefile.com logo
Oct 6 • 11:18 AM EDT • Politics • thestatehousefile.com
CAPS group counseling can help bolster student well-being and mental health

Emory’s counseling services offer a range of options to address the needs of students, including group counseling sessions that can help participants better understand themselves and others, cope with grief over the loss of a loved one, and more.

news.emory.edu logo
Oct 5 • 6:00 PM EDT • Health • news.emory.edu
Managing Your Mental Health During Football Season

Dr. Lee Long with Restoration Counseling joined Ryan Schmelz on LiveNOW from FOX to share strategies for protecting your well-being as a sports fan. The author of 'Wait, Where Am I in This?' shared ways you can maintain your composure and not overthink whether or not your team wins on Saturday and Sunday.

livenowfox.com logo
Oct 4 • 3:31 PM EDT • Health • livenowfox.com
Column: Did Iowa miss chance to address kids’ mental health?

I question if the decisions made were the best use for the funds. What about designating more to school and community grants, which could hire more counselors and therapists? Or

thegazette.com logo
Oct 4 • 1:39 PM EDT • Health • thegazette.com
Santa Fe’s Southwestern College marks 50 years of teaching behavioral health practitioners

The heart of Southwestern College, which is headquartered off Airport Road, is its on-campus Tierra Nueva Counseling Center.

santafenewmexican.com logo
Oct 3 • 1:00 AM EDT • Health • santafenewmexican.com
Record 12th consecutive month of $500 million in sports bets

Advocates and counselors said more funding is needed to address sports gambling in North Carolina.

spectrumlocalnews.com logo
Oct 2 • 7:26 PM EDT • Health • spectrumlocalnews.com
Record 12th consecutive month of $500 million in sports bets

Advocates and counselors said more funding is needed to address sports gambling in North Carolina.

spectrumlocalnews.com logo
Oct 2 • 7:26 PM EDT • Sports • spectrumlocalnews.com
BC alum introduces students to the science of flavor and opportunities in culinary education

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, students at Bethlehem Central High School explored culinary education and the science of taste during a visit from BC alumnus Emily Crandall. Crandall, a 2017 BCHS graduate, works as an admissions counselor at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York. Her classroom visit was arranged by Family … Continue reading "BC alum introduces students to the science of flavor and opportunities in culinary education"

bethlehemschools.org logo
Oct 2 • 12:50 PM EDT • Science • bethlehemschools.org
'Mini-Woodstock' Music Series Raises Money for Mental Health

As Johnny Ray of the Swampscott Performing Arts Center and the Marblehead Counseling Center (MCC) discussed a potential event, Ray said, “So you’re trying to put on a mini-Woodstock.” Just...

swampscotttides.org logo
Oct 1 • 11:19 PM EDT • Health • swampscotttides.org
On the frontlines of student mental health

As anxiety, depression, and crisis-level needs rise among young people, Penn GSE–trained school counselors are uniquely prepared to provide early intervention, emotional support, and essential care both inside and beyond the classroom.

penntoday.upenn.edu logo
Oct 1 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • penntoday.upenn.edu
September Monthly Review: Health MCP Guy?

For all the time I spend talking about APIs and data exchange, this newsletter has had embarrassingly little interoperability of its own. It’s old-school SaaS, baby - UI or bust. Not all of that is my fault! Substack, for all its popularity, is (as mentioned before) really frustrating as my system of record. The primary user it optimizes towards is the reader, whose attention feeds the app, the Notes feed, and the recommendation network that Substack is actually selling. Health API Guy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe They’re falling into the same trap that Medium once sprinted into, albeit at a much more glacial speed. Younger generations may not remember (or never knew) it, but Medium once lured publications like The Ringer and Signal v. Noise onto its platform, only to lose them as it rebuilt itself around a paywall and an algorithmic feed. Substack’s original pitch circa 2020 was the antidote (you own your list), but every new feed feature chips away at it. I get it: writers are generic supply in the eyes of the Substack product team. Generic supply follows demand, so the consistent pressure on the PMs is to generate demand, which leads to every product cycle going toward discovery (Notes, recommendations, the app, live video). The end result lackluster author tools (laggy and broken analytics are truly crippling) all despite the premium price point. The archive is where it crosses from authorial gripes to actual reader impact, though. Across Substack and LinkedIn, I’ve published 1,218 posts and nearly 900,000 words since 2018. Substack’s native search can see only the 464 posts that live on Substack, and even there it’s woefully inadequate at surfacing relevant content (even for the guy who wrote it)! Readers have the same problem, writ large. Ask the Archive Fixing search (for both my readers and my own use) turned out to be extremely non-trivial, unfortunately: There’s no public API for readers to access content RSS exists for new content notification, but it only carries the 20 most recent posts and cuts paid ones off at the preview The only Substack MCP is an admin tool for analytics The export exists for authors, but it’s painfully awkward and slow. So I built something to work around that: the Health API Guy MCP. It’s a private MCP server holding the full text of everything I’ve written across Substack and LinkedIn. Add it to Claude or ChatGPT as a connector and you can ask things like: It pairs keyword search (for acronyms and case names, of which we have many) with semantic search. Every post is also labeled by topic, form, and court case, so you can pull a lawsuit’s (or multiple cases’) entire docket across Substack and LinkedIn in one query: Hail, Healthapiguyhydra This is also a bit of me eating my own cooking. I’ve spent the year arguing that headless healthcare is arriving and that developers want primitives over abstractions. Last week in Hail, Benihydra, I watched Salesforce plug its platform into Claude and bet that the records underneath outlive whatever interface sits on top: Salesforce must believe that the Hydra’s immortal head is the records, permissions, and business logic (in that they will survive whatever happens to the interface). It felt a bit hypocritical to keep my own archive behind a Substack search bar. The archive is the body. Substack is one head, and now whatever tool you might use is another. Will the EHRs follow my lead? Probably not imminently, but one can hope! Why Founding Members Only The MCP is available to Founding Member subscribers. A few reasons: It costs money and time to run. Hosting, the database, Clerk usage and AI compute for search and labeling are significant operational costs (that increase with usage). Substack gives me no way to automate access. There’s no API to check whether someone is a paid subscriber, so every user is manual operations for now. It’s a beta. We’ll need to improve things and parts will break. I’d rather they break for a small group of dedicated readers who will tell me about it. The Founding tier deserved a real benefit. Until now it was mostly a generous tip. Now it comes with something. If you’re already a Founding Member, reply to this email with the address you’d like provisioned. If you’re not and want in, upgrade here. Larger teams (such as companies) can get access too: group subscriptions at the Founding tier come with the group discount. The admin for the subscription can reply with the list of addresses to provision. Get 20% off a group subscription Pricing Founding membership is now a flat $200 a year, replacing the old suggested $150 that readers could adjust. Existing Founding Members will have access grandfathered in at their previous rate. Month in Review Articles Published Make Networks Dumb Again (Sep 11): AI is making old analog networks cheaper to use and flooding them with machine traffic in the process. A plea for agent-native rails with the intelligence at the endpoints, and for Washington to drag them to ubiquity. Interoperability, Unbuttoned (Sep 29): Interoperability is a series of workflows in a trenchcoat, and this post finally takes the trenchcoat off. A color-coded map shows which provider workflows went digital, which are fragmented, and which still run on fax. Video Content Antitrust’s System of Record Problem (Sep 3): The FTC’s investigation into Epic prompted a ninety-minute webinar, now posted with chapters and a smoothed transcript. We get into why market definition, missing B2B share data, and the SSNIP test leave antitrust poorly suited to systems of record, plus why information blocking may be doing more than any pending lawsuit. The Information Exchange: Cerner Milking Edition (Sep 18): This was so fucking fun. Ryan Tucker, Ryan Brickner, Brad Thorson, and I try an Around the Horn format, complete with points, penalties, and a mute button. We debate whether Oracle Health is dead, who would actually buy Cerner (IBM enters the chat), p(Doom), and why the front desk still hands you a clipboard. Regulatory Ask Not What Your Network Can Do (Sep 23): CDC’s RFI on public health data intermediaries lists use cases already served, unevenly, by eCR, lab reporting, IZ Gateway, and syndromic surveillance. The real opportunity sits in one question about AI: a network that can handle the next emergency without another interface project. Court cases Particle v. Epic: The Naughty Schoolteacher (Sep 4): After a summer-long vigil, the answer on Epic’s early summary judgment bid is two paragraphs and a remedial assignment. Particle advances to the next grade, and market definition gets another year of discovery. The Epic Discovery Files (Sep 8): Texas’s motions to compel arrive with a 251-page appendix of requests, objections, and meet-and-confer letters with Cravath. Inside: Epic using generative AI for document review, denied interoperability requests in scope, and Noerr-Pennington raised against lobbying discovery. Epic v. Health Gorilla: “Working as Designed” (Sep 9): Epic wants nothing to do with the data breach MDL, and explaining why puts fresh discovery on the public docket. The spiciest allegation: Health Gorilla told GuardDog to scrub its law firm business from its website instead of cutting off access. Veeva v. Epic: Legal Bypass Surgery (Sep 15): Veeva asks the Wisconsin Supreme Court to skip the Court of Appeals, while law professors and three policy groups line up as amici. Meanwhile, Epic’s lawyers apologize for another round of citation errors, including a quote that never existed. Texas v. Epic: Behind the Black Bars (Sep 17): The court portal served up Epic’s unredacted filings, revealing a $5 million document review budget and the AI workflow behind it. Also inside: the 200-plus company names Texas wants searched, and one very expensive Zoom invitation. OpenEvidence v. Doximity: Consequences Will Follow (Sep 25): OpenEvidence tells the court it will not comply with a discovery order, and its own lawyers at Quinn Emanuel say they won’t defend the choice. Add years of Slack reported unrecoverable, and Rule 37 sanctions come into view. Health Tech Keeps Choosing Violence (Sep 28): Doximity moves to end OpenEvidence’s case, Epic asks Texas to show its work, and a sleepy Audacious Inquiry patent fight sprouts antitrust and information blocking counterclaims. The main event is a long-sealed Cognizant v. Infosys ruling that hints where system of record antitrust claims can survive. EHRs One Verb for Oracle Health (Sep 14): Oracle’s earnings call quantifies every data center to the decimal point, while Oracle Health gets a single verb: “accelerate.” Panning the few healthcare mentions turns up an agentic care management system, a research-to-care ledger play, and the question of whether healthcare gets Larry’s patience. Epic’s Forretress Under Siege (Sep 30): Judy Faulkner tells a panel Epic paused hundreds of projects to harden its software and calls it a “shame,” while a spokesperson insists the roadmap hasn’t changed. Project Glasswing, a Pokémon-branded QAN sprint, and a trove of Jodel grievances reconcile the two Epics and preview the Jevons paradox coming for all software. Industry Analysis Scanning for a Network (Sep 1): Scan.com raises $220M to build the imaging network labs never got, speedrunning Zocdoc’s consumer-to-B2B pivot. Its wedge to network density may be the most American one available: personal injury litigation. The Front Desk Wants the Damn Whole Building (Sep 16): Hello Patient buys Converse Health, pushing its AI front desk into referrals, chart work, and prior auth. The copilot categories keep blurring, and your distribution partner is still your final boss. Cross-industry Comparisons A Different Patchwork Quilt (Sep 10): Healthcare loves to envy open banking, but the US version has no mandate, a toll booth at Chase, and data quality problems of its own. The grass isn’t greener; it’s another American patchwork quilt, and perhaps a worse one. Hail, Benihydra (Sep 21): Salesforce brings its platform into Claude, Slack, and its own agent, inviting the interfaces that might replace it. Cut off one head and more grow back, so long as the records underneath stay put. Living on A Trade Secret Prayer (Sep 22): Six credit unions are suing Fiserv, the Epic of core banking, by claiming their own member records as trade secrets. Banking has no Cures Act, so its lawyers reach for legal alchemy that healthcare has already tried. Other News None this month External Media Nabla Accelerate NYC: I kicked off fall conference season at Nabla’s Accelerate event in New York, where Delphine Groll opened by asking the room to picture the company it wants to become and the one it doesn’t. I liked her framework of bureaucracy, fear, and ego as the blockers. I also love vendor conferences/events in general - different vibe than industry biggies. Healthcare 101 with Nikhil Krishnan: I briefly guest lectured Out-Of-Pocket’s Healthcare 101 class. Appreciated Nikhil’s takeaways cover whether AI doctors can query HIEs, why healthcare’s data-liberation rules beat most industries’, and the hi-res graphic is in the comments. HCN: Epic Probed by the FTC: I joined the HCN guys to talk through the FTC’s investigation into Epic. Cedric’s new hairdo was an unexpected plot twist. The episode also covers MFN drug pricing, healthcare M&A and Eli Lilly’s acquisition streak. Fall Conferences: At eHealth Exchange’s Annual Meeting in Austin on Oct 27, I’ll moderate a panel on the tensions between AI, HIEs, and timely patient access with Jean Ross (Primary Record), Therasa Bell (Kno2), Byron Crowe (Doctronic), and Michael Marchant (Freenome). Here’s the rest of my schedule if you want to meet up: CommonWell (Redwood Shores, CA): Oct 13-14 Will be participating in a fun Jeopardy event Open@Epic (Madison, WI): Oct 20-23 Will be enjoying Verona, Willy Street, and other local adventures eHealth Exchange and Sequoia Project (Austin, TX): Oct 27-29 Yeehaw HLTH (Vegas): Nov 15-18 Groundhog Day, Venetian Edition RSNA (Chicago): Nov 30-Dec 2 See me at “Governing AI in Breast Imaging: What Health Systems Are Actually Doing” Digital Health Counsel 2026 AI Summit (Seattle): December 2-3 Will likely be speaking to a bunch of lawyers about information blocking Posts I Liked ChatGPT’s Epic integration: game changer or nothing burger?: Joshua Liu, MD offers five thoughts on OpenAI’s Epic launch, starting from the point that it rides the same open APIs available to anyone. He argues read-only access leaves ordering to Art and the ambient startups, and asks why HCA is piloting it alongside Commure. He’s sorta a must-follow at this point - consistently excellent, thought-provoking takes. Epic, Lilly, and the Discovery pass: Seth Chaney reads Epic’s first major Discovery deal (with Eli Lilly), as well as its revised developer terms on commercial displays, as the pipe finally opening between EHRs and pharma. Life sciences and health continue to collide. Scott Rossignol on EHR payer platforms and ePA fees: Scott argues the top ambulatory EHR vendors are turning the prior auth mandate into a per-member-per-year toll on payers, for an API whose operating cost has nothing to do with covered lives. His fix is two lines of regulatory text: put the CRD/DTR/PAS certification criteria in the Base EHR definition, and bring payer-facing ePA connectivity under § 170.404’s cost-based fee rules. It’s a good solution. Health API Guy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe

healthapiguy.substack.com logo
Oct 1 • 4:36 AM EDT • Health • healthapiguy.substack.com
Central College receives $2.5 million for TRIO Talent Search program

Central College has been awarded a $500,000 annual grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Federal TRIO Talent Search Program for another five years. The funding, totaling $2.5 million, will support a program that serves about 1,000 students in the Des Moines area. Talent Search provides tutoring, counseling, mentoring, career exploration and…

businessrecord.com logo
Sep 30 • 5:26 PM EDT • Business • businessrecord.com
Sandhills Community College Small Business Center expands to Moore and Hoke Counties

Small Business Center Director, Laura Kinsman. Photo provided by: SCCSandhills Community College (SCC) is launching a redesigned Small Business Center model that expands no-cost entrepreneurial support across Moore and Hoke Counties. Rooted in the College’s commitment to strengthening small businesses and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic growth, the enhanced model is led by recently appointed Small Business Center Director, Laura Kinsman. The model also includes two new Senior Business Advisors who will provide trusted expertise, stronger community connections, and individualized guidance to entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the region.Kinsman brings a unique perspective to the director’s role as both a local business owner, operating in downtown Southern Pines, and a former Moore County educator. “Her combination of education, business ownership, leadership, and community involvement make her a great fit for the Small Business Center and the work we are continuing to build across Moore and Hoke counties,” said Taylor L. McCaskill, senior director of Workforce Development & Corporate Partnerships in a press release.Kinsman is an active member of the Southern Pines Business Association and has been connected to the Sandhills Small Business Center since the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. She looks forward to building on that experience by strengthening the Center’s partnerships and expanding its connections throughout the community.She will lead the Center's efforts to support entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Moore and Hoke County and be the connector to the North Carolina Community College System Small Business Center Network operations. The Center offers no-cost, confidential one-on-one counseling, practical workshops, and connections to the resources and partners that help local businesses start, grow, and create jobs.A key part of this new approach, only offered at SCC, is a network of Senior Business Advisors, experienced professionals who will provide individualized guidance in areas such as business planning, finance, marketing, operations, growth strategy, and problem-solving. These advisors will serve as trusted partners to entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them turn ideas into action, overcome barriers, strengthen existing businesses, and pursue new opportunities. This one-on-one counseling is available at no cost, ensuring that high-quality business support is accessible to entrepreneurs at every stage.Senior Business Advisor for Hoke County, Kenna Parks. Photo provided by: SCCKenna Parks has been named the senior business advisor for Hoke County. She is a business professional, entrepreneur, and educator who brings a unique combination of academic training and real-world business experience. She earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2017 and has built her career around entrepreneurship, marketing, business development, and helping others turn ideas into sustainable opportunities.Senior Business Advisor for Moore County, Katrin Henderson. Photo provided by: SCCAs a military spouse, she has successfully launched and operated businesses across five states, giving her firsthand experience in adapting to diverse markets, building new customer bases and understanding the importance of global reach in today’s business environment. Over the last decade, her areas of focus include business planning, marketing strategy, branding, customer development, financial preparedness, operational planning and connecting entrepreneurs with educational programs and community resources.Parks brings an especially valuable perspective to business advising because she is an entrepreneur herself. She is the owner of Glamo Society Bridal & Formal Wear in Raeford, N.C., giving her firsthand experience with the realities of launching, operating, marketing and growing a small business. She understands that entrepreneurship extends far beyond developing a great idea; it requires strategy, financial awareness, adaptability, strong customer relationships, and consistent execution.Katrin Henderson will serve as the senior business advisor for Moore County. Thriving in hospitality and retail, Henderson has enjoyed positions in Food & Beverage Management and Retail Management in various fine dining and retail establishments in the area, before opening her own children's shop in 2015, in the Village of Pinehurst. She is a native of Moore County.Quickly immersing herself in this new world of small business ownership, Henderson joined various boards and committees, including President Elect of Pinehurst Business Partners and Event Chair for the Holly Arts & Crafts Festival. She also partnered with local organizations such as Moore County Economic Development and Moore County Chamber of Commerce and Sandhills Community College Small Business Center in events and educational opportunities. In 2026, Henderson sold her shop and now offers full-time support to both new and seasoned entrepreneurs through freelance consulting mentorship and the SCC Small Business Center program.The Small Business Center team is passionate about making business resources more accessible, and ensuring entrepreneurs know they do not have to navigate business ownership alone. Through their work with SCC, they are committed to building meaningful relationships with local businesses, community organizations, and industry partners while helping entrepreneurs move from idea to strategy, strategy to action, and action to sustainable growth.“Sandhills Community College believes deeply in the power of small business and entrepreneurship because strong local businesses create jobs, spark innovation, generate investment, and strengthen the communities we serve,” said McCaskill in press release. “Through this new Small Business Center model, Sandhills is building a stronger ecosystem where entrepreneurs can connect, grow, and thrive, while helping drive long-term economic vitality throughout our region.”To learn more about the Center's services or to schedule a consultation, please contact Kinsman directly at kinsmanl@sandhills.edu or 910-695-3938.

bizfayetteville.com logo
Sep 30 • 3:46 PM EDT • Business • bizfayetteville.com
Secret phone-record seizure sparks personal lawsuit from GOP senator

Marsha Blackburn's lawsuit targets Jack Smith personally, arguing the special counsel was never lawfully appointed and violated her constitutional rights.

foxnews.com logo
Sep 30 • 11:22 AM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Top Ranking for Bellevue University's Counseling Master's

CounselingPsychology.org ranked Bellevue University's Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program No. 2 among counseling master's programs in Nebraska for 2027. The ranking recognizes Bellevue University's CACREP-accredited program and its online format designed to support students preparing for counseling careers and licensur...

news.bellevue.edu logo
Sep 30 • 10:45 AM EDT • Health • news.bellevue.edu
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (9%)
love
70%
wow
30%
Ahmad Ali Daher, D.O., Joins Baptist Health Primary Care as a Family Medicine Physician

September 4, 2026 – Family medicine physician Ahmad Ali Daher, D.O., has joined Baptist Health Primary Care. Dr. Daher provides comprehensive primary care, including preventive care, chronic disease management, wellness and lifestyle counseling and care for acute illnesses. His clinical interests include preventive medicine, sports medicine and ringside medicine. Prior to joining Baptist Health, Dr. […]

southfloridahospitalnews.com logo
Sep 30 • 9:41 AM EDT • Health • southfloridahospitalnews.com
Health experts warn of addiction risks as nicotine pouch use grows

Nicole Bassounas, a nurse practitioner and certified cessation counselor at Jefferson Hospital, said the pouches deliver nicotine and can lead to addiction.

6abc.com logo
Sep 29 • 8:18 PM EDT • Health • 6abc.com
😐 Neutral (14%)
wow
100%
GOP senator airballs perjury claim against Jack Smith over apparent Hawks/Hawkeyes mixup

The Missouri senator’s shot at a gotcha moment against the former special counsel wound up being a very public miss.

nbcnews.com logo
Sep 29 • 4:51 PM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
High-Signal Publisher
An embarrassing moment for the GOP, a defensive witness and other takeaways from Jack Smith’s hearing

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two indictments against now-President Donald Trump in 2023, testified in front of Congress again on Tuesday — this time, to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

cnn.com logo
Sep 29 • 2:28 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Jack Smith appears for Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington

Jack Smith, former special counsel at the Justice Department, looks on ahead of his testimony before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, September 29,

galvnews.com logo
Sep 29 • 9:09 AM EDT • Politics • galvnews.com
Former special counsel Jack Smith testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee

Former special counsel Jack Smith will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee at 9 a.m. ET. Follow for live updates.

cnn.com logo
Sep 29 • 8:01 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith will tell senators he won't 'be silenced' by threats of prosecution

The former Justice Department special counsel who brought two federal indictments against President Donald Trump will tell lawmakers he “will not be silenced by continued threats of prosecution” from the Trump administration and believes the rule of law is being threatened like never before

washingtonpost.com logo
Sep 29 • 6:34 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith will tell senators he won't 'be silenced' by threats of prosecution

The former Justice Department special counsel who brought two federal indictments against President Donald Trump will tell lawmakers he “will not be silenced by continued threats of prosecution” from the Trump administration and believes the rule of law is being threatened like never before.

wsls.com logo
Sep 29 • 6:28 AM EDT • Politics • wsls.com
😐 Neutral (14%)
love
100%
Jack Smith, Former Special Counsel, Will Appear Before Congress

Mr. Smith’s testimony will be the latest public clash over the use of prosecutorial power in American politics.

nytimes.com logo
Sep 29 • 5:30 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Former special counsel Jack Smith to testify before Senate on Trump investigations

Smith has rejected assertions he or his prosecutors were motivated by politics.

abcnews.com logo
Sep 29 • 5:02 AM EDT • Politics • abcnews.com
Mental Health Counselor Convicted in $26 Million TRICARE Fraud and Kickback Scheme

Kevin Curry, of Texas, was found guilty by a jury after pretending to be a doctor, fabricating medical records, and forging identities for kickbacks.

military.com logo
Sep 29 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • military.com
Bobby Kotick’s lawyers sent me a bad email (and later apologized)

The message I had received was unsettling—for a moment. Then it was just really confusing. Back on January 20 of this year, at 5:15pm ET, I received an email with the subject line “Legal Correspondence re Bobby Kotick.” It was from the law firm Clare Locke, a firm I’d heard had been emailing reporters in recent years about their coverage of Kotick, the former, longtime CEO of Activision Blizzard. The letter was threatening. A lawyer from the firm introduced themselves as “defamation counsel to Bobby Kotick.” They issued a “demand” that I “correct” a Game File article I’d published a week prior. The article that had irked them had been a scoop of sorts. I’d written about a a 2022 lawsuit brought by a Swedish pension fund, AP7, over Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard. The suit wasn’t news, but I was first to review and report about Kotick’s extensive pushback to the fund’s claims. The pension fund’s core contention was that the sale had been rushed by Kotick to avoid the consequences of sexual misconduct scandals swirling around the company in 2021. (He’d not been accused of misconduct himself in those suits, to be clear.) As I wrote at the time, Kotick had denied the allegations of the rushed sale. Beyond that, Kotick used a December 2025 reply to the Swedish fund’s lawsuit to assign blame for those workplace scandals, the bad press and even for the AP7 lawsuit. I’d found Kotick’s arguments novel and newsworthy. Across nearly 3,000 words, I explained Kotick’s take: that a Swedish gaming company was behind the Swedish fund’s lawsuit (the Embracer group; they denied it); that the Microsoft-Activision deal was not rushed and was secured at what Kotick felt history had proven to be an optimal price for shareholders; that he believed a conspiracy of people at unions government agencies, PR firms and the media had spun up claims of widespread workplace misconduct at Activision Blizzard in 2021. The article gave context for all of this, letting readers assess the claims and weigh their credibility. As I’d later write to Kotick’s lawyers: I would be surprised if you could point to any news article about Bobby Kotick in the last five years that has spent more of its wordcount articulating his point of view. He is welcome to do an interview with Game File any time. Nonetheless, there they were in my inbox that Tuesday evening: Clare Locke, the law firm that secured a $787.5 million settlement from Fox News over false statements about voting machines. They were emailing me, threatening that failure to comply with their demand could support a claim of “actual malice,” a legal standard for libel. Unless… Unless, they said, I added a key paragraph to my article. This was a paragraph that I already knew Kotick’s lawyers had been emailing reporters about for at least a year, and it was a paragraph that was already in my article. The paragraph they wanted is from a 2023 settlement that California’s Civil Rights Department struck with Activision Blizzard. The settlement had closed a two-year-old lawsuit over alleged sexual discrimination at the game maker. The paragraph basically said that claims of systemic or widespread sexual harassment—or of execs like Kotick tolerating such behavior—had never been proven. I’d already seen proof that Kotick’s lawyers had pushed for the settlement’s language to be added to reports about 2021 sexual discrimination and misconduct lawsuits brought against Activision Blizzard by California and, separately, by the U.S. federal government (both suits were since settled). I knew that Kotick and his lawyers felt that the California settlement language should be mentioned in the same breath as references to an article he hated and denied, a November 2021 Wall Street Journal article claiming Kotick knew “for years” of sexual misconduct at Activision Blizzard. So, in the Game File article that Clare Locke emailed me about, in the interest of ensuring I was being fair and balanced regarding the person I was covering, I had already included the following excerpt from the California settlement [emphasis added in bold]: (Kotick has repeatedly pushed back against that November article in the Wall Street Journal, citing among other things, language from a court-approved consent decree as part of Activision’s 2023 $54 million settlement over the California suit. It states: “no court or any independent investigation has substantiated any allegations that: there has been systemic or widespread sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard [or] that Activision Blizzard senior executives ignored, condoned, or tolerated a culture of systemic harassment, retaliation, or discrimination.”) On the evening of January 20, I was incredulous. How do you write a four page legal threat about a week-old article and miss this? While scrambling to also make my kids dinner, I wrote a lengthy reply to Clare Locke’s lawyers, basically asking them to cool it with the threats and to start making sense. In part, I wrote: I hope you can understand why I am having trouble understanding what you’re asking for, when the statement you’re demanding to see in Game File’s article already appears in Game File’s article. Actual malice, as you know, refers to a reckless disregard for the truth. I’m not sure what your argument is when my article already states your client’s position. Here is where I should remind you, the reader, that I am an independent journalist. I publish on Substack, and have availed myself of the Substack Defender program that provides writers on the platform with legal support. But I’m no Wall Street Journal or New York Times, nor even IGN or GameSpot when it comes to such things as, well, having a legal department. There are more fun things for me to do as an independent journalist than writing back to a powerful law firm representing a very rich person. On the evening of January 20th, I was just trying to cook some pasta, broccoli and chicken nuggets for hungry twins. Nevertheless, I wrote back to them. Two hours later, I got a reply. Summarizing: A lawyer for Clare Locke said they’d “reviewed an incomplete version” of my article and they “apologize for the confusion.” (My guess: Someone didn’t read past the piece’s paywall, even though they’d had a full week to scrounge up the funds to do so. What I’d published above the paywall was balanced, as was what came after.)1 That was almost that, but something about the situation bothered me. The letter had been marked “confidential.” I hadn’t agreed to that, and I disliked the idea that powerful people on the beat that I cover would act like they could unilaterally control what I might tell my readers about. On the morning of the 21st, having already gotten the powerful law firm to back off, I oh-so-wisely re-approached them with just one more thing. I thanked them for clearing things up the night before but noted that I’d never agreed to keep their letter confidential. I’m all for agreeing with a source to keep things off the record, but that’s the thing. We have to agree. You can’t just declare it. I’m not bound by that. I wrote to Clare Locke’s lawyer and said, in part: I trust the matter is resolved. It was disappointing to have to spend less time with my kids last night in order to address your legal letter. Family time’s precious. I will add, for clarity’s sake, that, while your letter stipulated that it was confidential, I did not agree to those terms. In the future, should you wish to communicate with me confidentially, I am happy to agree to classifying our communication as “off the record” prior to the actual communication—as is standard with any professional journalist. The firm’s lawyer replied, not directly addressing the confidentiality issue but asserting that the matter was resolved. Why I didn’t write about this until now In May, I told this story on an episode of Simon Parkin’s podcast My Perfect Console, but I held off on sharing it directly with Game File readers. I held off to avoid stepping on the toes of another reporter, the journalist Mikhail Klimentov. He’d interviewed me in the spring of 2025 about an investigation he was working on regarding Bobby Kotick lawyers pressing the media to add the California settlement language to stories referencing the 2021 lawsuits. And about how some outlets had changed their stories and how some simply deleted them. Initially, I was a third-party source for Klimentov’s reporting, providing on-the-record context about the state of the games media. I’d heard about the letters but hadn’t put the time into pursuing the story. I thought it was interesting, and I was glad he was covering it. When the outlet that Klimentov was going to run his reporting in dropped the story, I began talking to him about potentially publishing his reporting on Game File. This was tentative. Then, in January, when I got my own Clare Locke letter, I told Klimentov that I didn’t think it would make sense for me to publish him, not with me now being part of the story. I had my own version of this situation to tell. But I wished him well and said I’d refrain from telling my tale until he could get his reporting out there. Last Friday, Klimentov finally ran his investigation, in a nearly 48-minute video report for People Make Games. It covers various Clare Locke letters, how media outlets reacted to them and what to make of all this. His video weighs the merits of Kotick’s request and looks at some of the articles that were changed (one of which had a glaring error). I highly recommend watching it: (Note, I did some editorial consulting for a People Make Games video last year but nothing to do with this report.) While many outlets haven’t left any public evidence that they updated their Kotick coverage at Kotick’s counsel’s request, at least one has. Back in October 2025, the mainstream outlet Reuters applied the most transparent article update I’ve seen. On the 3rd of the month, they published an article about the state of the Swedish pension fund’s lawsuit. Days later, they added this: In an October 7 letter sent after publication of this article, Kotick’s defamation counsel disputed claims of widespread harassment at Activision. “Not a single investigation, court finding, verdict, or ruling ever concluded that there was any merit” to the allegations of widespread harassment at Activision, Tom Clare and Nick Brechbill of Clare Locke wrote. I’ve never added a statement to my article on Game File, because none was needed. Not for fairness’ sake, nor to meet any demands of Kotick’s lawyers. I’ve nevertheless wanted to be transparent with Game File readers. If someone powerful is questioning my reporting, is threatening a lawsuit over it… if that threat is part of a pattern involving other games media outlets and if, in my case, the whole thing ran into a ridiculous ditch, I want you to know about it. I also share this as a real example of how I handle threats to Game File. I stand up for my own reporting, even when it’s not comfortable to do so. (In that same category of standing up for the work I do, I’ll point to an incident in late August. Asocial media post I published to X/Twitter regarding reporting I did about Take Two and GTA VI was hit by bogus copyright claim by a firm working for the publisher. I pushed back and got it reversed; even while a bigger games media outlet let themselves be censored. This is the other reason I’m sharing this story: To emphasize that dealing with threats from powerful people is one of the costs of covering the video game industry independently and as fearlessly as possible. This is where you come in. Your support, through free and paid subscriptions (sign up here!), can help me keep doing that. It can ensure that I’ve got the back-up I need. And it can help make fiascoes like this even less of a worry, so I can spend my evenings dealing with more important things, such as making sure I steam the kids’ broccoli just right. 1 That pension fund lawsuit I wrote about in January has all but gone away. In May, the fund and Activision Blizzard owner Microsoft agreed to settle. Lawyers for the fund brokered a $250 million settlement for former Activision Blizzard shareholders. In the settlement, the fund’s lawyers changed their rhetoric. Where once they’d questioned the meaning of the California settlement language, they adopted a version of it for themselves. Several weeks ago, while seeking to get a court to sign off on the terms of the settlement, they proposed their fee for their work in the case: $60 million.

gamefile.news logo
Sep 28 • 4:13 PM EDT • Technology • gamefile.news
Senate Finance Committee Advances Health and Tax Nominees

Senate Finance Committee votes to advance four nominees for HHS Deputy Secretary, IRS Chief Counsel, and Tax Court judge positions. See the results.

legis1.com logo
Sep 28 • 2:53 PM EDT • Health • legis1.com
AMC Entertainment (AMC) grants its general counsel 201,289 share units that vest in stages through 2029.

Edwin F. Gladbach received the grant Sept. 24. One-third vests each January from 2027 to 2029, subject to service conditions; shares follow within 30 days.

stocktitan.net logo
Sep 28 • 2:39 PM EDT • Entertainment • stocktitan.net
General Counsel Awards 2026

Meet the 40 nominees who will be honored at the 2026 Orange County Business Journal's General Counsel Awards. The awards dinner will be Oct. 29th at the Irvine Marriott.

ocbj.com logo
Sep 28 • 4:16 AM EDT • Business • ocbj.com
😐 Neutral (19%)
wow
100%
North Texas counselor convicted in $26 million health care fraud

Prosecutors say Kevin Curry funded a lavish lifestyle with the millions he received defrauding the federal government.

dallasnews.com logo
Sep 25 • 3:10 PM EDT • Health • dallasnews.com
Supporting the mental health of those who provide mental health care in Maine schools

The start of each new school year always brings attention to the mental health needs, including anxiety and stress, of students and their families. However, it can also be a stressful time for those who support them, like school social workers, counselors, teachers, and clinicians.

wmtw.com logo
Sep 25 • 2:35 PM EDT • Health • wmtw.com
😐 Neutral (13%)
love
65%
ahah
35%
First in entrepreneurial excellence: FSU celebrates local businesses at inaugural Impact Awards Gala

The Entrepreneurial Impact Awards Gala provided a formal night out for Fayetteville’s business community. The event took place at the Rudolph Jones Student Center on Thursday, Sept. 10. Photo by GFBJ. Fayetteville State University (FSU) and the Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur and Business HUB (FSU HUB) came together to celebrate Fayetteville’s business community. The two organizations rolled out the blue carpet at the Rudolph Jones Student Center for their inaugural Entrepreneurial Impact Awards Gala held on Thursday, Sept. 10.The gala honored outstanding entrepreneurs and business leaders who demonstrate excellence, foster growth and inspire the next generation of innovators within the FSU and broader business community.FSU HUB Director Dr. Tamara Colvin was able to highlight that this new milestone was a great way to show local success stories, not just tell.“That one-stop shop that’s across the street, we never promised that everyone would be successful, but what we did promise was access. Four years ago, we opened up an entire ecosystem: counseling, capital, contracts, connections, certifications,” shared Colvin. “I want to thank the judges who took up hard work for choosing tonight’s honorees. That’s never an easy task when the whole region is full of people worth recognizing at the HUB. We practice what we preach: Res Non Verba: Deeds, not words.” A few of the inaugural recipients of the awards shared their statements with the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal.STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR Boolean Wiring LLC, Esean Rose, owner “I am truly honored and grateful to receive the Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award. I want to thank Fayetteville State University, the judges and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. This award represents more than recognition for where Boolean Wiring is today. To me, it represents the potential of where we are going. I am excited about growing the company, creating jobs, serving our community and building something that can have an impact far beyond Fayetteville.”VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS SpeediPrint Inc., Dazrell Fleming, owner “I’m honored to accept the Veteran-Owned Business Award on behalf of the entire SpeediPrint team. A special thank you to Dr. Tamara Colvin for creating this opportunity through the Entrepreneurial Impact Awards, and to my mentor, Mr. Julius Cook, whose guidance during the Boots to Business program truly paid off. This recognition reflects the hard work of my staff and the trust our customers place in us every day — I’m grateful to serve this community and excited for what’s ahead.”MULTI-GENERATIONAL EXCELLENCE BJL Construction, Cleopatrice Robinson, president“This award is especially meaningful because we are more than a business — we are the continuation of a family legacy built through faith, hard work, craftsmanship, integrity and service. I gratefully acknowledge my grandfather, Deacon Benjamin “BJ” Lacy, Jr., whose example helped establish the foundation upon which our family’s entrepreneurial legacy was built. I also honor my father, the late Dr. Wilson Lacy, former president of BJL Construction. Working alongside him was both an opportunity and an education. He taught me that a business’s reputation had to be earned on every project through honesty, excellence, quality and service. As the current president, I recognize that I did not arrive at this moment alone. I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me, and I am sustained by those who continue to walk beside me.”MICRO BUSINESS Maybridge Development, LLC, Latisha Perkins, owner “I accept this award with so much pride and a whole lot of gratitude. First and foremost, I want to thank my higher power for continuing to guide me and give me the strength to keep going.When I first started this business and moved here to Fayetteville, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. This business has turned me every which way but loose, and I definitely had some moments where I was ready to just pack it up and head back to Georgia. I want to thank my Maybridge team, my village, The Hub, the FCEDC team and all the people and organizations here in Fayetteville who have believed in me and Maybridge and helped us get here.”COMMUNITY IMPACT Greater Life of Fayetteville, Georgeanna Pinckney, CEO & executive director “We are deeply honored to be recognized by FSU and the FSU HUB with the Community Impact Award presented to Greater Life of Fayetteville. I am especially grateful for this recognition because it tells us that you see what we do – and, more importantly, why we do what we do. Our commitment is to serve, empower and create meaningful opportunities for youth and families in our community. Most importantly, we give God first and foremost all the glory. We thank Him for giving us the wisdom, strength, vision and unity to continue doing this great work in our community.” SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Crowder Trucking LLC, Carlos & Valerie Morrison Crowder, owners “I want to thank God for always keeping his hands on Crowder Trucking. I’m truly honored and grateful to receive the Small Business Award from the FSU HUB. Running a small business is not always easy. There are long days, difficult decisions, unexpected challenges and plenty of moments when you have to remind yourself why you started. But there are also incredible moments like this one that remind you that the hard work is worth it,” shared Valerie Morrison Crowder.OTHER WINNERS INCLUDE: Alumni Entrepreneur - The Two-Six Project, Grant Bennett, founder and president Fayetteville State University Faculty Award - Dr. Christy Swinson Emerging Business Award - Genuine Luxury Beauty Salon Legacy Award - Gillis Farms Inc. Industry Titan of the Year - Eaton Corporation Entrepreneur of the Year- Let Me Cater to You, Chef Judith Cage, owner

bizfayetteville.com logo
Sep 24 • 3:47 PM EDT • Business • bizfayetteville.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (18%)
wow
55%
love
45%
Whistleblower Law Collaborative Adds Former DOJ Senior Health Care Fraud Counsel Augustine M. Ripa

/PRNewswire/ -- Whistleblower Law Collaborative LLC (WLC), a firm dedicated to representing whistleblowers nationwide under the False Claims Act and other...

prnewswire.com logo
Sep 23 • 10:00 AM EDT • Health • prnewswire.com
Gal Gadot's $3m. Genesis Prize initiative funds 24 Israeli mental health and trauma care NGOs

Recipients include Make-A-Wish Israel, United Hatzalah, and CareGivers Israel. The grants will support treatment, trauma counseling, caregiver training, and social work services.

jpost.com logo
Sep 23 • 1:56 AM EDT • Health • jpost.com
☹️ Negative (-3%)
love
100%
Chief Counsel told staff early not to use Signal

The influencer issue this summer left the group chat.

ny1.com logo
Sep 22 • 8:22 PM EDT • Politics • ny1.com
House Republicans drop Jack Smith transcripts in explosive Arctic Frost records fight

House Republicans released transcripts from Jack Smith's team, alleging improper subpoenas targeted GOP lawmakers' phone records in the Arctic Frost probe.

foxnews.com logo
Sep 22 • 4:32 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Long Island small businesses receive $20,000 grants from Optimum Business & LIA Foundation

This year's grand prize winners are Balance Mental Health Counseling in Huntington and the Barber & Beauty Institute of New York in Hempstead.

longisland.news12.com logo
Sep 22 • 3:08 PM EDT • Business • longisland.news12.com
NSSF’s Lawrence Keane Appointed to Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council

WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, celebrates the appointment of Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF’s Senior Vice President & General Counsel, to the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council (HSSCAC). The Council will provide the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture with advice regarding the establishment […]

nssf.org logo
Sep 22 • 10:38 AM EDT • Sports • nssf.org
Caesars Entertainment supplements proxy over counsel conflict disclosure amid merger

Caesars Entertainment voluntarily supplements its definitive proxy to disclose Latham & Watkins’ separate representations of Fertitta affiliates while denying any required additional disclosure.Key Highlights:Original SEC Filing: Caesars Entertainment, Inc. [ CZR ] - 8-K - Sep. 22, 2026This is an A…

tradingview.com logo
Sep 22 • 9:23 AM EDT • Entertainment • tradingview.com
😐 Neutral (11%)
wow
57%
ahah
43%
$7,000 grant to expand access to mental health services in Saginaw County

Child and Family Service of Saginaw County has received $7,000 grant from MyMichigan Health to support the organization’s Hope Counseling Scholarship Fund.

wnem.com logo
Sep 22 • 8:41 AM EDT • Health • wnem.com
Jiang Feng: The Unravelling of German & European Politics

A state election in eastern Germany has become a revealing test of the changing political landscapes of Germany and Europe, writes Jiang Feng, Professor and Chairman of the Council of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies (SAGGAS) at Shanghai International Studies University. His analysis follows the decisive victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) (which has been classified as right-wing extremist by German authorities)in the state of Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September, in which it finished far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Jiang previously served as Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. The following article was published on 8 September 2026 on huanqiu.com, the online platform of the Global Times. On 6 September, the results of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, were announced. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified as far-right by German authorities, made history by becoming the largest party in the state parliament, winning 43.8 per cent of the vote — twice its share in the previous election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had governed the state continuously for 24 years, won just 17.2 per cent, its worst result ever in Saxony-Anhalt. On the night the results were announced, the atmosphere at the CDU gathering was unusually calm. There was neither shock nor argument, as if the defeat had long been expected. Several veteran party members who had spent years working in the state government said: “Defeat is not a bad thing. It is time to make changes.” This state election has not only upended Saxony-Anhalt’s political landscape, but also laid bare the deep tensions between Germany’s traditional party structure and model of governance, on the one hand, and an increasingly polarised society on the other. Its repercussions are already being felt at the federal level, making Saxony-Anhalt a useful case study of the broader trend towards political polarisation and realignment in Europe. Governing Difficulties after Electoral Victory The most immediate consequence of the election is a historic setback for the mainstream party order that took shape in post-war Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD has leapt from a peripheral party to the largest political force in the state. Its electoral base has expanded beyond the traditional category of “marginal protest voters” to take on the characteristics of a cross-class coalition. The party has not only consolidated its support in rural areas, but also attracted many middle-class voters and even members of the social elite with stable jobs, their own homes, and substantial incomes. It has thus evolved from a “protest party” into one with the potential to govern. Despite its commanding lead in the vote, however, the AfD faces an institutional obstacle to governing the state: the mainstream parties’ long-standing “firewall” against it. Neither of the two potential routes to forming a government appears likely to break the current political deadlock. The first would be a coalition of establishment parties, led by the CDU and bringing together the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left Party (Die Linke) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in a cross-camp government. In terms of parliamentary arithmetic, such a coalition could prevent the AfD from forming a government and preserve the outward stability of the traditional political order. Yet these parties are fundamentally divided over key issues including immigration, the energy transition, economic management, and cultural and education policy. Coalition negotiations would therefore be extremely difficult, and even if a government could be formed, it would most likely prove short-lived. More importantly, an alliance of establishment parties aimed at keeping the largest party out of government would play directly into the AfD’s narrative that “political elites are suppressing public opinion”. It could deepen perceptions of political unfairness, further strengthening the AfD’s political capital, and creating a dynamic in which “the more it is suppressed, the more people vote for it”. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for state premier, has said that if efforts to form a government fail because other parties refuse to cooperate, the AfD will push for a fresh election, which he believes could deliver the party an absolute majority of seats. This points to more intense political battles ahead. The second option would be a coalition between the AfD and the BSW. Together, the two parties would command a simple majority in parliament, making this, on paper, the quickest route to forming a government. The BSW is the only elected party that has not ruled out cooperation with the AfD, and the two parties share some common ground, including on policy towards Russia. There is therefore a degree of political basis for cooperation. Were such a coalition to materialise, Germany would see its first state government jointly formed by a party defined as far-right and one with a far-left background, creating what might be called a “bipolar anti-establishment alliance”. Such an outcome would fundamentally break with the ideological boundaries of post-war German party politics. It is worth noting that even if the AfD ultimately fails to enter the state government, its roughly 47 per cent share of parliamentary seats would give it a powerful blocking minority. Without its consent, major decisions requiring a two-thirds majority — including constitutional amendments, significant budgetary adjustments, and state-level institutional reforms — would be extremely difficult to pass. Therefore, whoever ultimately forms the government, the AfD will be an unavoidable force in Saxony-Anhalt politics, with a direct influence on the state’s legislative process. Systemic Failures in Germany’s Governance Model The Saxony-Anhalt election result reflects a systemic failure of Germany’s post-war mainstream-party model of governance to adapt to rapidly changing socioeconomic conditions. It stems from multiple, mutually reinforcing structural tensions and highlights the existing political system’s difficulty in adapting to “an increasingly polarised society First, collective anxiety has replaced individual material hardship as a central driver of political mobilisation. The rise of the AfD can no longer be explained simply by poverty or social marginalisation. Its increasingly cross-class electoral base suggests that what is driving voters towards the party is, above all, concern about the broader direction of society. This anxiety about the future of the political community goes beyond individual gains and losses. In political discourse, economic anxiety has become closely intertwined with immigration, while immigration and refugee issues are, in essence, questions of social fairness. This perception turns conflicts over the distribution of social resources into negative assessments of governing parties, providing a broad social basis for far-right political narratives. Second, regional disparities and East German identity have undermined the strategy of addressing eastern Germany’s structural challenges at the regional level. More than three decades after German reunification, eastern states such as Saxony-Anhalt have experienced periods of economic growth, but their underlying economic structures remain weak, and household incomes and wealth remain significantly below those in western Germany. At the same time, they continue to face population outflow, an ageing population, labour shortages, and other structural challenges. At a deeper level, historical experiences — including the collapse of the former East German economic system, mass unemployment during the transition, and the westward shift of decision-making power over major issues — have left some residents with a sense of being “second-class citizens” and of being excluded. For years, the German government treated the “syndrome” of reunification as a regional problem to be gradually addressed at the local level. That approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable, as regional development disparities emerge as a core structural factor shaping national politics. Third, the erosion of institutional trust is perhaps the most decisive factor. AfD supporters tend to distrust establishment institutions, including parliament, government, and the mainstream media. Their concerns about economic security, pensions, and social fairness are significantly greater than the social average. Increasingly, their support for the AfD reflects not an expectation that the existing system can be improved, but a search for an alternative to the current political order. Such a systemic deficit of trust will be extremely difficult for the traditional parties to repair in the short term. Fourth, a generational shift in political mobilisation has amplified political polarisation. Unlike traditional parties, which rely heavily on offline rallies and mainstream media coverage, the AfD has developed a social-media mobilisation strategy built around “raising an issue — identifying who is responsible — offering a simplified solution — building a shared identity”. It turns complex social tensions into concise political narratives, rapidly channelling public sentiment into political support. The contrast on the eve of the election was particularly telling. The establishment parties, together with trade unions and churches, organised an offline march attended by more than 10,000 people, but its reach was largely confined to those present and to traditional media coverage. The AfD held a much smaller indoor event, yet livestreaming on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, combined with the involvement of online influencers, gave it a reach and mobilising capacity far beyond that of the march. The contrast illustrates how the traditional parties’ methods of political mobilisation are increasingly struggling to keep pace with a political environment transformed by changes in media technology. A Microcosm of Structural Political Change in Europe The shockwaves from the Saxony-Anhalt election quickly travelled beyond the state to the federal level. Calls for political accountability followed immediately after the results were announced. The governing CDU and SPD are now under enormous pressure, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil face an unprecedented test. Political polarisation in Germany is no longer simply a regional phenomenon. The post-war model of multiparty government by establishment parties is breaking down and being reshaped. Viewed in a broader European context, the Saxony-Anhalt election is part of a continent-wide wave of party polarisation, mainstream-party decline, and rising right-wing forces. Far from an isolated phenomenon, it is a microcosm of the structural political changes unfolding across Europe. Weak economic growth, cultural tensions over immigration, and declining trust in institutions are fuelling the rise of right-wing forces in several countries, challenging the liberal internationalist order established in post-war Europe. As a core member state of the European Union, Germany’s ability to adapt its political system and the direction of its politics will have profound implications for both European integration and the evolution of the international order. Subscribe [ Pekingnology China’s Germany watchers take stock of Berlin’s uneasy turn On 7 December 2025, nearly 50 Chinese scholars and policy researchers gathered in Beijing for the 2025年德国形势年终研讨会 “2025 Year-End Seminar on the Situation in Germany… Read more 9 months ago · 31 likes · 1 comment · YIRUI LI and Yuxuan JIA ](https://www.pekingnology.com/p/chinas-germany-watchers-take-stock?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1151841) [ Jiang Feng on Germany's 2025 and beyond: no easy exit ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond) Yirui LI and Yuxuan JIA · Jan 24 The following is an op-ed by Jiang Feng, published on 29 December 2025 at Shanghai Observer 上观新闻, the digital platform of Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). [ Read full story ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond)

eastisread.com logo
Sep 22 • 3:04 AM EDT • Politics • eastisread.com
Counselor running over 3,000 for youth mental health

A mental health therapist is running from Boston to Newport, Oregon, to raise funds to provide mental health therapy to teens.

kptv.com logo
Sep 22 • 12:37 AM EDT • Health • kptv.com
☹️ Negative (-10%)
Mental health expert: Fall’s arrival brings comfort, challenges

As many look forward to the first day of fall, a licensed professional counselor says this time of year brings a sense of excitement and anticipation.

whsv.com logo
Sep 21 • 9:26 PM EDT • Health • whsv.com
M&A INDUSTRY ICON AWARD HONOREE: LAWRENCE M. BRAUN - Sheppard

M&A INDUSTRY ICON AWARD HONOREE: LAWRENCE M. BRAUN Of Counsel Sheppard Lawrence M. Braun is a partner in Sheppard’s Los Angeles office and the former

labusinessjournal.com logo
Sep 21 • 4:54 PM EDT • Business • labusinessjournal.com
Local specialists connect state resources, local partners, behavioral-health expertise to prevention efforts throughout Sweetwater County

SWEETWATER COUNTY -- September is Suicide Prevention Month, but for Southwest Counseling Service Prevention Specialist Jayda Gatley, the conversation doesn't begin when the calendar turns to September.

wyomingnews.com logo
Sep 20 • 12:57 PM EDT • Health • wyomingnews.com
Hundreds run Mental Health Matters 5K in support of counseling center

Hundreds of runners gathered Saturday at UNC Asheville for the fourth annual Mental Health Matters 5K.

wlos.com logo
Sep 19 • 8:40 PM EDT • Health • wlos.com
Trump to create ‘AI Force’ to monitor technology as fears over out-of-control agents grow

President had brushed away suggestions to slow down AI technology, even as his own party counseled caution

theguardian.com logo
Sep 19 • 3:57 PM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com
Orange County Public Schools mental health counselor describes layoff scare
clickorlando.com logo
Sep 19 • 12:52 PM EDT • Health • clickorlando.com
Fragomen - A World of Difference in Immigration - Immigration attorneys, solicitors, and consultants worldwide

The California Minority Counsel Program's annual business conference brings together law firm partners, corporate counsel and public sector leaders for discussions on leadership, business development…

fragomen.com logo
Sep 19 • 3:04 AM EDT • Business • fragomen.com
‘Not just numbers on a budget spreadsheet:’ Orange County Public Schools mental health counselor describes layoff scare
clickorlando.com logo
Sep 18 • 11:35 PM EDT • Health • clickorlando.com
Orange County Public Schools mental health counselor describes layoff scare
clickorlando.com logo
Sep 18 • 11:00 PM EDT • Health • clickorlando.com
High Point Police launch mental health crisis response team

The help, outreach, prevention and engagement, or HOPE team will include a licensed social worker and two crisis counselors to better address issues like homelessness, substance use and mental health.

wfdd.org logo
Sep 18 • 4:36 PM EDT • Health • wfdd.org
National Legal and Business Media Cover Arrival of Chicago Partner Andrew Barrios

Law360, Global Legal Chronicle, Corporate Counsel Business Journal, Benchmark Litigation and Pulse 2.0 were among the legal and business news outlets that covered the arrival of McGuireWoods partner Andrew Barrios,...

mcguirewoods.com logo
Sep 18 • 3:09 PM EDT • Business • mcguirewoods.com
If anyone can defy 'political gravity' it's Trump and his team: Kellyanne Conway

Former Trump senior counselor Kellyanne Conway analyzes new polling ahead of the midterms and discusses voter concerns over the cost of living, inflation, and key Senate races, on 'The Story.'

foxnews.com logo
Sep 17 • 6:17 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Oura, Counsel Health join CMS ACCESS model to test whether wearables and AI can improve chronic care at scale

Oura and Counsel Health are teaming up to participate in CMS' 10-year chronic condition management program, betting that continuous health data from Oura's smart ring paired with medical AI can hel | Counsel Health, an AI-native primary care company, plans to participate in CMS' ACCESS Model under the early cardio-kidney-metabolic track, with smart ring maker Oura serving as the preferred wearable partner.

fiercehealthcare.com logo
Sep 17 • 7:30 AM EDT • Health • fiercehealthcare.com
Chicago Cubs Announce Dansby Swanson Update Before Braves Series Finale

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced an update on shortstop Dansby Swanson before Wednesday's game against the Braves. The post Chicago Cubs Announce Dansby Swanson Update Before Braves Series Finale appeared first on HEAVY.

sports.yahoo.com logo
Sep 16 • 7:52 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Mental Health Monday: Raising awareness during Suicide Prevention Month

Lennie Howard, from the Samaritan Counseling Center, joined WSFA to give supportive information on how to prevent suicide.

wsfa.com logo
Sep 14 • 1:38 PM EDT • Health • wsfa.com
New Stompers Project sculpture, 'HAVEN,' unveiled at Student Health Center

"HAVEN," a collaborative sculpture with the Jana Marie Foundation built from recycled sneakers, has been unveiled by Counseling and Psychological Services and University Health Services in the Student Health Center at University Park. Unveiled Sept. 9 as part of the Stompers Project, the sculpture is intended to help “stomp out” the stigma surrounding mental health.

psu.edu logo
Sep 14 • 9:00 AM EDT • Health • psu.edu
AARP and DCAL Health, Wellness and Resource Fair

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the Southwest Waterfront AARP Chapter and DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) for their annual Community Health, Wellness and Resource Fair at River Park, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. Participating are AARP, DACL, the Office of the Attorney General, Legal Counsel for the Elderly, […]

hillrag.com logo
Sep 13 • 12:00 AM EDT • Health • hillrag.com
Inspired Entertainment (INSE) general counsel details stock and 100,000 share units

General counsel Damon Carys reports 23,043 INSE shares plus RSU and PRSU awards, including a 100,000-unit grant deferred until departure or change in control.

stocktitan.net logo
Sep 11 • 5:46 PM EDT • Entertainment • stocktitan.net
RWJBarnabas Health opens sixth Food Farmacy in NJ

RWJBarnabas Health opened its sixth Food Farmacy at Monmouth Medical Center, providing healthy food and nutrition counseling to patients.

njbiz.com logo
Sep 11 • 3:54 PM EDT • Health • njbiz.com
George J. Pammer

George J. Pammer is a founding partner at Batarseh Pammer, which provides experienced legal counsel in family law, criminal defense and traffic matters.

libn.com logo
Sep 11 • 1:00 AM EDT • Business • libn.com
Looking to address workforce shortages, Nichols launches flexible mental health counseling masters program

The new master’s program comes as Massachusetts faces both high unmet behavioral-health needs and staffing instability in outpatient care.

wbjournal.com logo
Sep 10 • 4:36 PM EDT • Health • wbjournal.com
Tyler groups host fourth annual mental health workshop for Hispanic community

Sense of Self Counseling and Monarca partnered for their fourth annual workshop in Tyler to address mental health awareness and break cultural stigmas within the Hispanic community.

kltv.com logo
Sep 9 • 3:16 PM EDT • Health • kltv.com
RWJBarnabas Health Opens New Food Farmacy at Monmouth Medical Center

RWJBarnabas Health and Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) today celebrated the grand opening of the system’s sixth Food Farmacy to provide patients with nutritious foods and individualized nutrition counseling from registered dietitians to support long-term health and well-being.

newswise.com logo
Sep 9 • 1:15 PM EDT • Health • newswise.com
Licensed counselor reveals link between weight loss and mental health effects

Bonnie Mitchell, a licensed professional clinical counselor in California, said that while a new study shows a correlation between weight-loss drug use and self-reported mental health symptoms, it cannot prove causation.

foxnews.com logo
Sep 8 • 10:41 PM EDT • Health • foxnews.com
😐 Neutral (0%)