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Bernie Sanders Gives $1 Million to Bolster El-Sayed and Counter AIPAC in Michigan
The transfer came day after the news that the pro-Israel lobby was planning to contribute as much as $9 million to defeat the Democratic nominee for Senate.
Hunter Berry returns to Carter Fold this Saturday night
HILTONS, Va. — The Carter Family Fold will welcome back Hunter Berry and His Bluegrass Band to its stage on Saturday, Oct. 24, for an evening of classical country music.
Refusal of Care Laws: A Threat to Both Patient Health and States’ Protection of Abortion Access
What You Can Do To Put Patients First In Your State Across the country, people are being denied the health care they want or need, not for medical or professional reasons, but because of the personal beliefs of the health care provider or the institution’s affiliation. Denials range from abortion care (including miscarriage care), to […]
Fire breaks out at vacant Lancaster County business
A fire was reported at a vacant Lancaster County business on Thursday night.
'Haven’t shut down’: St. Johns County golf cart business owner continues operation after large fire
New Quincy business brings recreation supplies, ammunition closer to home
For outdoor enthusiasts in Plumas County, finding the right gear for a day of fishing, a weekend in the backcountry or a hunting trip can sometimes mean a
Giants’ strong special teams unit has one big weakness: counting
One of the best special teams units in the NFL can’t keep getting burned by something as simple as counting to 11.
Understanding Illicit Political Finance to Counter State Threats
In 2024, Western governments warned that Russia was actively interfering in Moldova’s elections, seeking to prevent the re-election of pro-European Union politicians. This interference targeted Moldova’s political system from multiple angles, including covertly funding political actors and protest movements. There were widespread reports of vote-buying, including cash payments of up to €100 to voters. Reports […]
Scott's Stumper
The News-Gazette presents “Scott’s Stumper,” a feature by Scott Shaffer that shows zoomed-in photos of various things around Randolph County.
How well have past GOTY winners sold?
We’re less than two months away from 2026’s The Game Awards, and what a year it’s been for fantastic games, including Resident Evil Requiem, Forza Horizon 6, Slay the Spire II, the Blood of Dawnwalker, and Control Resonant – just to name a few. So as we approach the end of the year, we thought we’d look back on our estimates for the GOTY winners of the past four years. In terms of revenue, Elden Ring (2022 winner), Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023), Astro Bot (2024), and Expedition 33 (2025) have generated a combined $3.8B via 73M copies sold: Let’s have a look, then. Elden Ring has generated $2B in revenue Elden Ring is a phenomenon in every sense. It’s sold a whopping 36.4M copies across Steam (50%), PS5 (35%), and Xbox (15% across console and PC). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring also just passed an astronomical milestone: $2B in revenue. While PlayStation and Xbox account for half of Elden Ring’s copies sold across these three platforms, they account for 57.5% of revenue. This – as ever – is due to regional pricing and the higher relative share of PC gamers in lower-priced markets. For example, around 17.4% of Elden Ring’s Steam copies sold were in China, where the game costs about 26% less than the price in the States. There’s an … interesting narrative going around these days that console gamers are only interested in ball-and-gun games and have the patience for little else. Well, Elden Ring’s impressive sales prove that is simply not true, and across all platforms. What’s more, over 9.8M people have played Elden Ring for over 100 hours, with nearly 3.5M people getting all of the achievements and trophies. For reference, 10.9% of Elden Ring’s PlayStation players have the platinum trophy, while 10.5% of players on Steam and 3.9% of Xbox players unlocked all the achievements. Git gud, Xbox players! Of the 1.5M people who played Elden Ring on PlayStation last month, 4% also played Dark Souls 3 last month, 4% played Bloodborne, and 3% played Sekiro. There’s those Soulsborne diehards for you. By many accounts, including my own, Elden Ring is one of the best games of all time. It’s an evergreen seller that will continue to be a cash cow for Bandai and FromSoftware for years to come. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring has sold another 2M copies across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox this year, generating almost $110M. This means it’s outperforming many of this year’s high-profile releases. Even Elden Ring’s standalone run-based PvE spinoff, 2025’s Nightreign, has sold 7.8M copies and generated $282M in revenue. Baldur’s Gate 3 is another billion-dollar-plus banger Another cross-platform phenomenon is Baldur’s Gate 3, which has sold 23.2M copies and generated over $1.2B in revenue. About 18.7M of these copies (80.6%) are via Steam, 2.9M via PS5 (12.7%), and 1.6M (6.8%) via Xbox. Around 1.3M folks on Steam bought BG3 before it hit 1.0. The PlayStation version launched about a month after the PC 1.0 release, while the Xbox version came four months later due to technical issues around developing local co-op on the Series S. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Across platforms, Baldur’s Gate 3’s monthly active users have never dropped below 2M, including 2.2M MAUs last month (68.5% on Steam, 21.9% on PS5, and 9.6% on Xbox). And it still regularly brings in 280K to 400K players every day: About 1% of BG3’s Steam player base has played for over 500 hours! That’s a little under 200K people. Astro Bot is also an evergreen seller, albeit a more niche, family one Astro Bot, 2024’s winner, has now sold 4.7M copies and generated $291M in revenue. The budget, including marketing, is almost certainly under $100M, given the small Japan-based core team and three-year dev timeline. You can really see why the tides are changing toward less expensive hubs. Astro Bot is the only first-party winner on this list, but follows other first-party winners of The Last of Us Part II (2020’s winner), God of War (2018), and Breath of the Wild (2017). Around 46.6% of Astro Bot’s copies sold have been physical, which is far higher than the typical game. This makes sense for a couple of reasons: There’s a large family audience for this one, and physical boxes are an item to wrap when giving Astro as a gift. Astro has collector value for the PlayStation core (this is nostalgia-fueled platformer celebrating PlayStation’s history) Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Astro is another one of those games that continues selling over time, regularly selling more than 100K a month. It’s sold around 1M more copies this year ($60M in revenue) and is a popular title with families. We can see this using the Alinea platform’s MAU crossover tool: Astro Bot’s top #2, #3, and #4 games by crossover in any given month this year are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox – without fail. The #1 title every month, though, is Astro’s Playroom, a pack-in with all PS5 consoles. For every month this year, between 20% and 30% of Astro Bot players also played Astro’s Playroom that month. So the free pack-in is a noice funnel for converting players to a full paid product. Expedition 33 sells 8.7M despite Game Pass cannibalisation Finally, we have last year’s winner – Expedition 33. The turn-based-RPG banger has generated $366M via 8.7M copies sold, with 58.8% on Steam, 35.7% on PS5, and 5.5% on Xbox. Xbox’s share of copies sold is this low due to Expedition 33 launching on Game Pass, where 4.3M people across console and PC accessed the game. A little under 700K Xbox players used their subscription to play Expedition 33 this year. That said, the game’s 1.5-year Game Pass deal ended last week on October 16, and we’re already beginning to see a positive trend on Expedition 33’s copies sold via Xbox (but the jury’s still out!). There’s understandably a lot of French pride behind this one, as France is the game’s #3 market on both Steam and PlayStation. Vive la France! One thing that stood out to me is that the GOTY winners aren’t $300M Hollywood productions made in the US. They’re mostly mid-budget studios outside the traditional AAA cost centres. Lots to think about there. Also, good games sell well; who’d have thunk it!? And there’s a whole load of them this year, with GTA 6 still to come, too. GTA just made the cutoff point for the VGAs this year. What a coincidence! Loading... Cool links and other stuff Our physical games newsletter from Tuesday was picked up by GameSpot, Eurogamer, TweakTown, and a bunch of others. We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply right here on Substack/email, and we’ll set you up. Next week, we’ve got some exciting news regarding the future of our newsletter, so stay tuned! The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. Want to see why these companies (and many others) are subscribed to Alinea? Get a free platform trial! [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
Summit County Public Health offering updated COVID-19 vaccines
Summit County Public Health has begun to offer the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Here's how to get it.
County health assessment data identifies bullying as a key area for support
Boone County students reported more bullying-related behaviors than the state average in the 2026 maternal health assessment.
Britain Politics
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham, right, stands behind the counter with a staff member during a visit to discuss support for British businesses in Manchester, England, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.
Politics: The Midterm Races You Aren’t Hearing About
In just a dozen days, voters across the country will cast their ballots in midterm elections that could shift the balance of power in Washington. A lot of focus has been devoted to the contested races for Congress, with billions of dollars being spent on critical statewide contests and referendums.From governors’ mansions to statehouses to local ballot initiatives, voters will make their voices heard.We gather a panel of experts and zero in on some midterm races that aren’t necessarily making national headlines.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
More Lakeshore employers report rising sales and expansion plans
A Lakeshore Advantage survey finds rising sales and expansion plans among Ottawa and Allegan county employers, despite various challenges.
Today in Blue Jays History: Jays Win Second World Series
33 Years Ago Today I vividly remember that moment. Whether the Blue Jays won or lost, I felt confident we’d be okay. With Pat Hentgen lined up to start game 7 after his impressive outing in game 3, there was reassurance. Still, I’m grateful for how it all turned out. Even after countless viewings, Joe […]
‘People are busy trying to survive’: Wood County residents share concerns ahead of the midterms
Ahead of the midterms, Wood County residents discuss job losses, education, political apathy and what they want from elected leaders.
Cuyahoga County voters weigh Issue 11 health and human services levy
Issue 11 in Cuyahoga County supports a levy for the county-run Department of Health and Human Services.
Brazil's runoff: Lula's legacy vs. Bolsonaro's dynasty
Brazil's tight presidential runoff pits a political giant against a Bolsonaro heir in a battle over the country's political future.
Giant iPhone Duo Displays Coming to Four Apple Stores
To celebrate the launch of the iPhone Duo this Friday, Apple has set up oversized iPhone Duo promotional displays at Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City, Apple Covent Garden in London, Apple BKC in India, and Apple Jing'an in Shanghai. The installations were already spotted under wraps, and Apple CEO John Ternus has since revealed what they look like in a photo of Apple Jing'an shared on his Weibo account today.
Opinion: In D.C. Schools, How the Science of Reading Offers a Blueprint for Math
Students in the nation’s capital posted gains in math and reading for the fourth straight year, according to the results of statewide accountability tests released last month. It was the latest piece ...
Accounting firms grow advisory services for growing clients
New York accounting firms like Geller & Company and Grassi Advisors expand advisory services to meet growing client demands for strategic financial guidance.
Sun Prairie arts organizations receive county grants
Dane County Executive Melissa Agard and the Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission have announced that 70 grants totaling $96,750 have been awarded to local organizations supporting arts, history,
New owner-operator brings upgrades, more programming to Skate City
"There's nobody else in the country that does what we do when it comes to roller-skating." Take a look at what already has changed and what's ahead from the new owner-operator of Skate City.
Slotkin's viral 'threat' to conservatives takes new twist as student moves to hold her accountable: 'Shocking'
Michael Bicksell, the University of Chicago student who broke the story, filed the ethics complaint arguing Elissa Slotkin's remarks targeted students.
John Anderson, country music star whose hits included 'Wild and Blue,' dies at 71
Country Music Hall of Famer John Anderson has died at age 71 | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
America’s socialist surge and its hard limits
Socialism is gaining ground in the US, fuelled by anger over inequality and economic insecurity. But can its rising popularity translate into lasting political influence across the country? US author and academic Michael Kazin sheds light on the issue.
Kristin Dietzel focuses on business growth, access in run for Dubuque County supervisor
Watch KCRG-TV9's full interview with Democratic candidate for Dubuque County supervisor Kristin Dietzel from October 2026.
(US)AI becomes GSA's first direct OneGov contract with a small business
The Maryland firm known for its Intelligent Computing Platform will offer significant discounts to government customers on software licenses and pilots through September 30, 2028.
Inside Trisha Yearwood’s Weight Loss Journey: Everything the Country Singer Has Said About Her Health
Trisha Yearwood has been candid about dieting and weight loss over the years. Here’s everything to know about Trisha Yearwood’s weight loss journey.
Restaurant Roundup: New Panda Two Fails Health Inspection, Manitou Springs Cafe Earns High Marks
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A Chinese restaurant in Colorado Springs failed its recent routine health inspection after inspectors documented a dozen
Xbox Shocktober Sale 2026 goes live with over 1,200 terrifyingly good deals
The huge Xbox Shocktober Sale 2026 is now underway, featuring a massive 1,200 discounts on Xbox games, bundles, DLC packs, and more.
California latest target in DOJ efforts to end public benefits fraud
High-ranking federal officials in recent days have touted the crackdowns across the country
Country stars pay tribute to Dolly Parton in CMA special
Country music stars perform onstage as 'CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton,' Oct. 21, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Democrat running for Stefanik's seat says 'my identity is not in politics'
Upstate New York congressional candidate Blake Gendebien (D) joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss his campaign in New York's North Country and where his priorities fit into the Democratic Party's agenda.
Chesterfield apartments sell for $107.7M, a per-unit record
Bainbridge Midlothian, a 310-unit apartment complex in Chesterfield County, sold for $107.7 million, likely setting a Richmond price record.
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Teresa Rand named News-Journal's 'Most Influential Woman in Business'
Shades of pink filled a conference room in The Shores Resort & Spa on Oct. 22 as businesswomen from Volusia and Flagler counties gathered to celebrate a long-running Daytona Beach News-Journal tradition.
CBICC Awards Honor Local Businesses and Leaders. Here Are the Winners
The Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County on Wednesday honored businesses, nonprofits and individuals for their outstanding efforts and
Mississippi County 'Work Here Live Here' program reaches 250 homes
Mississippi County civic and business leaders launched a “Work Here, Live Here” plan to lure steel industry-related workers into living in the county more than two years ago. The program...
Flu cases rise early in El Paso County as public health officials monitor respiratory illnesses
Increases in flu typically begin around Thanksgiving.
Placer County, UC Davis Explore Tahoe City Science Hub
The University of California, Davis could soon bring hands-on community education and world-class scientific research to Tahoe City.This week, the
Fund to help businesses switch to green vehicles
Council leader Stephen Place says it will help businesses counter the rising cost of fuel.
Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now
In this month’s picks, alien encounters, sinister deepfakes, fantastical time loops and postapocalyptic woe.
New Report Highlights How Private Credit Powers Businesses Across America
Dunham: "Private credit direct lending plays a critical role in our economy, supporting countless small and midsized businesses across the U.S."
Birds are more afraid of women than men. Scientists have no idea why
Scientists have uncovered a strange pattern in urban bird behavior: Across five European countries and 37 species, birds consistently fled sooner when approached by women than men. Researchers have no clear explanation for the difference, raising intriguing questions about how birds recognize and respond to humans.
Victoria County political leaders encourage voter turnout as Election Day approaches
With Election Day approaching on November 3, local political leaders in Victoria County are encouraging residents to participate in early voting.
‘We haven’t shut down’: St. Johns County golf cart business owner continues operation after large fire
The owner of the St. Johns County golf cart business that was heavily damaged in a fire Wednesday night said he is continuing operations as the business recovers.
The Politics Hour: On the road in Prince George's County with U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Council Chair Krystal Oriadha
U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks on what's at stake in the upcoming midterm elections and Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha on the widening controversy over county grant money.
Hamilton County removes $6.5M minimum bid for Business Development Center
Hamilton County is eliminating a $6.5 million minimum bid requirement for the county-owned building at 100 Cherokee Blvd. known as the Business Development Center, which the County Commission voted to declare as surplus in May.
In House District 13, Two Political Newcomers Square Off
House District 13, the Lake County district that includes Polson, has been held by a Republican for more than a decade. This year, self-described moderate Democrat Dalton Bradford hopes he can change that. “I’m just a hometown guy,” Bradford said. “My wife would say I’m overly humble, but that truly is me. I don’t view […]
Landers Center to announce new sports partnership in Southaven
Leaders with the sports league, DeSoto County and the City of Southaven will hold a 9 a.m. news conference to detail what the deal means for sports and entertainment across the Mid-South.
LA County Public Health reports first pair of flu deaths of the season
Data center developers to host Nov. forum in Southwest Virginia
Oasis Digital Properties is considering constructing up to four data center buildings in Russell County, with a Nov. 18 public forum planned.
In Iowa, Trump struggles with economic woes of farm country
The president is holding rallies in states that Republicans have previously been able to count on.
Acupuncture and mutual exchange in Chinese and Soviet science
Previous accounts of the scientific relationship between communist China and the Soviet Union have depicted it as one of subordination, with the Russians exporting knowledge to the Chinese or scavenging ...
Billions of ‘Uncounted’ People? The Real Mystery Is Where the Maps Think Everyone Actually Lives
A disputed study raises a practical question. If population maps put people in the wrong places, could disaster plans underestimate how many need help?
Downtown Sacramento businesses prepare for crowds ahead of Kings home opener
A new team store, Kings-themed drinks and game-day discounts are among the offerings available to fans near Golden 1 Center.
1Password lets AI agents use your passwords without seeing them
Just grant the agent access approval and it’ll sign into your accounts to complete tasks.
USA TODAY Sports Top IX flag football players of Week 9
These nine flag football players made their mark across the country this week, earning a spot among USA TODAY Sports Top IX.
Tiffany announces parental 'Bill of Rights' to ban transgender sports, pronoun changes
Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany says he’ll make Wisconsin schools more accountable by giving parents and teachers more rights.
Analysis-Ex-Prosecutor’s Killing Puts Guatemala’s Crime-Politics Nexus Back in Focus
By Sofia Menchu and Diego Oré GUATEMALA CITY, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Former Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Solorzano Foppa was one of the country's most high profile voices denouncing alleged links between politicians and business leaders and the country's increasingly powerful ...
Franklin County business ordered to stop operating child care center
The Department of Human Services has issued a cease-and-desist order to a Franklin County business for illegally operating a child care center.
Capcom confirms data breach affecting 11.7 million accounts
Japanese gaming giant Capcom has confirmed that hackers breached its membership service, CAPCOM ID, exposing more than 11.7 million customer email addresses and associated information.
Kansas manufacturing business responds to candidates’ conflicting accounts of tariff effects
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The two major party candidates for U.S. Senate diverged in a debate Wednesday night on whether tariffs were helping or hurting a Salina manufacturing business they both visited. A spokesperson for the business, however, denied U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall’s claim that tariffs were contributing to its growth. Tim Henry, chief financial […]
E. coli cases possibly linked to Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm, Will County health officials say
Five cases of E. coli are possibly linked to visits to Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen, the Will County Health Department said.
Justice Department asks appeals court to intervene in California ballot case
WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The US Justice Department asked an appeals court to intervene on Thursday in its lawsuit seeking to temporarily block California from counting more than 20,000
Multiplatinum artist Joe Nichols brings ‘Sunny and 75’ to Hard Rock Tulsa Jan. 29
Ranked by Billboard among its Top Country Artists of the 21st Century, Joe Nichols is heading to the Hard Rock Live stage inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa at
Authorities investigating whether first Kenyan and Nigerian Ebola cases crossed paths
Nigeria this week recorded its first case of Ebola in the current outbreak, which has spread from the epicenter in Congo to several other African countries.
Exploring Careers in Health Institute Inspires Nevada County Students to Pursue Futures in Healthcare
Nevada County high schoolers gained hands-on hospital, nursing lab, and EMS experience during a 4-day healthcare career institute hosted by NCSOS and local partners.
Applications Open for County College of Morris Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Apprenticeship
MORRIS COUNTY — County College of Morris (CCM) is accepting applications through Monday, November 2, for the next cohort of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science Apprenticeship, offering CCM students and adult learners living in New Jersey an opportunity to gain paid, hands-on experience while preparing for a career in the fast-growing fields of […]
Eli Lilly breaks ground on $5B Virginia manufacturing site
Eli Lilly ceremonially broke ground on its $5 billion Goochland County manufacturing facility Thursday, expected to begin production in 2030.
1Password launches a way for AI agents to log in on your behalf without seeing your password
The new feature allows agents to log into a customer's personal accounts while still protecting the private credentials that secure those accounts.
Local business owners trained by OpenAI share thoughts on $20 billion data center
Small business owners who took part in a training session with OpenAI are sharing their thoughts on the company’s $20 billion data center project planned for Effingham County.
Ohio policymakers wrestle with prediction markets as wagers on sports and politics explode
With tens of millions of dollars staked on political and sporting contests, prediction markets are fueling anxiety among policymakers in Ohio and around the country.
Chamber, RCEDA bring back business classes
by John Dowd The Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA) are teaming up to bring business training classes back to the Bitterroot Valley. […]
I built 'stable' life and career, then quit; moved to Hungary
I spent years building a stable life in Scotland, then decided to quit my job and move to a new country. I'm struggling to find work, but I'm happier.
Henrico Business Watch: Business license filings Oct. 15-21, 2026
Henrico County reported the following business license filings with start dates during the week. The filings are listed alphabetically by business or trade name, followed by a registered address and business industry classification. Carlyle Temp Agency LLC, 4112 Townhouse Road, Apartment F, Henrico – Employment agency. MJ Henley Powerwashing LLC, 4048
Charlotte could get three new hospitals as health care demand surges
CaroMont Health and Duke Health are partnering in an effort to bring two more hospitals to Mecklenburg County.
Truffle business to host grand opening in Pittsfield
Truffles by Tarah, a Berkshire County based truffle business will be opening its first storefront in Pittsfield on Oct. 31. A grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting will take place at noon.
911: Massive blaze destroys woodworking business in rural Blair County
Firefighters in Blair County are providing new details on Wednesday night's response to the massive commercial building fire in the Roaring Spring area.Emergenc
Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
Off-Balance: How US Courts Privilege Conservative Policy Outcomes -
Off-Balance: How US Courts Privilege Conservative Policy Outcomes By Brian Highsmith, Maya Sen and Kathleen Thelen A growing literature has challenged some of the more influential accounts regarding the role of courts in the development [...]
What was named Centre County’s Business of the Year? See CBICC awards results
The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) held its annual awards ceremony Wednesday at the Nittany Lion Inn.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) Benefits on Broad-Based Recovery Across Life-Science Markets
Broyhill Asset Management, a Charlotte-based firm, issued its third-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The Broyhill Equity Composite decreased by 0.3% in Q3, underperforming the MSCI All Country World Index, which gained 1.7%. For the first nine months of the year, the Composite returned 1.9%, compared to 13.4% for the Index. The […]
County BZA approvals permit poultry, business expansions
Wayne County Board of Zoning Appeals approved five petitions — two requesting additions for ag businesses, another seeking acreage reduction for poultry, a mining business expanding its property and a chiropractor moving his operations locally — at its Oct. 8 meeting. Hally Jordan and James Spears’ petition to reduce minimum lot acreage to accommodate 14 […]
Your vote, your health: Why voting plays a big role in healthy communities - Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Last revised Oct. 22, 2026 One of the Health Department’s goals is to build social connection and civic power.
Mark Walter borrowed from Chicago firm with investigators circling
Amistad Financial Group, a holding company that counts Magic Johnson as a minority owner, loaned about $1.26 billion to Walter’s companies between March and June of this year.
Best of Santa Cruz County entertainment, arts & food events this weekend, Oct. 22-25
With the weekend nearly here, check out things to do around Santa Cruz County, with a recommendation from Lily Belli and a specially curated list from Lookout's BOLO events calendar.
The last Democratic legislator in Rutland County is leaving office. What could that mean for the county’s political future?
Historically a Republican stronghold, Rutland County sent Republicans to fill a large majority of its seats in the Legislature last session. This election cycle, the Democratic Party couldn't find anyone to run for Senate and several House seats in Rutland.
LA County Public Health reports first flu deaths of the season
The LA County Department of Public Health confirmed the first two flu-related deaths of the season.
Dinwiddie board rezones Central State acreage for business use
Dinwiddie County supervisors unanimously rezoned 374 acres of the Central State Hospital campus for industrial and commercial development.
John Anderson, country music star, dies at 71
Blake Shelton, Reba and Luke Combs are among those who have paid tribute to the Country Music Hall of Famer.
Gov. JB Pritzker doling out big bucks to help Democrats — and boost a 2028 presidential run
Pritzker is taking out $40 million from his vast personal wealth to boost candidates in contentious races, and building coalitions with Democrats across the country, including in 2028 early primary states. "It's a terrific strategy," says former presidential candidate Howard Dean.
Stifel CEO Kruszewski talks sports and makes pitch for St. Louis’ future
The Stifel Charity Classic returned to Norwood Hills Country Club, with Stifel in its second year as title sponsor. The tournament is the opening playoff event on the PGA Tour Champions.
Ohio policymakers wrestle with prediction markets as wagers on sports and politics explode
With tens of millions of dollars staked on political and sporting contests, prediction markets are fueling anxiety among policymakers in Ohio and around the country.
Capcom Data Breach Results In Unauthorised Access To More Than 11.7 Million 'CAPCOM ID' Accounts
"We would like to sincerely apologize"
Introspection required if EU Inc fails, says start-up lobbyist
European start-ups have a new voice in Brussels. Startups for Europe, created from the merger of lobby groups Allied for Startups and the European Startup Network, is hoping to harness the momentum behind EU-Inc, a campaign that united start-ups and investors behind demands for a new pan-European company regime.At a launch event for the new association in Brussels on October 1, the mood was remarkably upbeat compared to a typical Eurobubble gathering, more Silicon Valley than Schuman roundabout.When asked whether this reflects a feeling that Europe is on the right track, chief executive Serena Borbotti-Frison said it’s a “scary” moment as the continent looks to boost its competitiveness amid a new technological arms race.“What is at stake is quite intense, and the way we can answer is by delivering, but also with hope,” she told Science|Business. “It’s what our industry does. It’s not about identifying a pain point and then saying it’s too hard.”For many in the start-up community, that sense of hope is dwindling. In March, the European Commission presented its proposal for EU Inc, naming its initiative after the grassroots campaign.EU Inc was meant to be a gamechanger: the ability to incorporate within 48 hours for less than €100 and scale up across Europe; a harmonised stock option regime enabling start-ups to compete for talent; and simplified insolvency procedures for innovative start-ups to reduce the cost of failure.However, haggling by EU governments has raised concerns that EU Inc will be stripped of the very features, including stock option harmonisation, that are meant to make it attractive for companies.“I fear we are proving to ourselves that the model doesn’t work,” Borbotti-Frison said of the policymaking process. “Everyone agrees we should have EU Inc. Everyone agrees it’s hard to scale and we need to scale to answer the competitiveness [challenge], and still we cannot deliver? [. . .] What does that say about ourselves?”The Commission has made EU Inc a cornerstone of its single market reform, and has agreed with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to target an agreement by the end of 2026. However, several points are currently holding up an agreement, including national rules around employee participation in management decisions, and the provision that employee stock options always be taxed at the point of sale. Some EU governments have reportedly pushed back on the Commission’s choice of legal basis, contending that anything related to taxation requires unanimity in the Council.Trade unions have also protested against EU Inc, fearing it will be exploited by companies looking to undermine workers’ rights.“If this doesn’t work, it’s introspection time, on the way our institutions work, maybe the way our lobbies work, and maybe the way the cooperation between them works,” Borbotti-Frison said.“Is it in the national interest? Is it a gap between political will and technical ability to operate? Is it speed? I don't know, but something needs to be fixed.”Ahead of last week’s European Council meeting, EU-Inc campaigners tried a new strategy: appealing directly to EU presidents and prime ministers. In an open letter, they urged EU leaders to “step in and give your negotiating teams a clear mandate to change course and reverse their objections to the Commission’s original proposal.”Lessons from EU-IncLike its predecessors, Startups for Europe will represent national start-up associations, but it is also targeting investors. The founding sponsors are venture capital firm Atomico and EQT, the investor selected earlier this year to manage the €5 billion Scaleup Europe Fund.It also wants to harness the knowledge and cross-border experience of European success stories. “Take the list of the 100 biggest unicorns in Europe. We are speaking to all of them,” Borbotti-Frison said. The association plans to publish a full list of supporters following the Slush tech conference in Helsinki in November.Andreas Klinger and Simon Schaefer, two key figures in the EU-Inc campaign, are both on the board of the new association, and Startups for Europe wants to take the lessons from their campaign.What was unprecedented about EU-Inc was “how rooted it was, and how strong it was in bringing everyone on board behind one clear pain point and solution to fix it,” Borbotti-Frison said. “This is an inspiration for us, and then we need to turn it into something more systematic, more bridged in Brussels, more connected to the policymaking game, and to scale it.”If it’s possible to unite such a broad coalition, it’s because the European start-up ecosystem is now mature, she said. “Maybe it was not ten years ago. Maybe it was not five years ago. But now, it’s mature to speak with one voice.”Open and liberal EuropeThe association plans to campaign on files related to three “pain points,” Borbotti-Frison said: “start and scale in Europe, fundraise and invest in Europe, and making Europe the most innovative continent.”As well as EU Inc, she cited public procurement, the EU’s simplification push, the Savings and Investments Union, and files related to AI adoption and technological sovereignty as priorities for the coming months.What these files have in common is that they relate not to subsidies but to the framework conditions influencing the availability of mostly private, or in the case of procurement, public, funding.Related articlesEmployee participation disagreement delays MEPs’ vote on EU IncCommission urges EU governments not to water down EU IncEU’s ‘ultra-fast’ €5B scale-up fund is set up to win, says its fund managerThe budget dispute over the next Horizon Europe programme will also impact start-ups, which are supported notably through the European Innovation Council. But EU innovation funding is a drop in the ocean compared to venture capital and public procurement budgets.“If competitiveness and innovation are a priority, then the [EU budget] should reflect it,” Borbotti-Frison said. However, she added that the main question is not how much public money is invested, but “how do we create the right conditions for the market to solve the problem?”The Scaleup Europe Fund mixes both approaches, using €1 billion in EU funding to crowd in private investors and address Europe’s lack of large-scale, late-stage growth funds. “It’s a proof of concept. Ideally, then the market will do it itself,” Borbotti-Frison said.Startups for Europe is also focused on bringing an alternative political narrative. Amid competing visions for open, global markets on the one side and a protectionist Europe on the other, it wants to offer “a third voice, to say we can be proudly European and build a strong continent in a liberal economy, open to the world, and global.”It can be tempting, when thinking about how Europe can better support innovation, to look across the Atlantic. But while it’s important to compare statistics to see where Europe needs to catch up, that’s where the comparison should stop, Borbotti-Frison said. “On everything else, we need to do it our own way. We don't have the same history. We don't have the same political model. We don't have the same way of life.”Many of the key files that could benefit the start-up community, including EU Inc and the Savings and Investments Union, rely on closer integration within Europe, making it easier to operate across borders.While the Commission has made deepening the single market a political priority, support at national level is more precarious. The coming months will see pivotal elections in Spain and France, while the German government has also been coming under pressure domestically. In each country, far-right parties have been gaining ground.When asked if she was concerned the political situation could jeopardise this progress, Borbotti-Frison responded: “Of course. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.” However, she continues to believe that cooperation is the only way forward. “Doing it alone is not the solution. It’s also not who we are, it’s not the model we are building, and it’s not the scale we need.”
Astoria-based FisherPoets bringing its unique brand of seafaring entertainment to Lincoln County
The FisherPoets Gathering, a rollicking, three-day celebration of poetry, song and commercial fishing that draws around 2,300 people to Astoria each winter, is coming to Newport, Lincoln City and four other Oregon coast towns this month.
Baptist Memorial marks lease transfer at Merit Health Rankin
The transfer was first announced on June 2 after a unanimous vote by the Rankin County Board of Supervisors.