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Coastal forces shape building sciences practice
When Built Environments relocated to Wilmington, the firm’s partners weren’t looking for the lazy tranquility one hopes for when on vacation. Instead, they sought sultry heat. They wanted to understand whipping coastal winds and punishing precipitation – the kind that tropical storms produce. That’s because how materials degrade can reveal a lot about how they can be improved. “We specifically chose the Wilmington market because it does fall within Climate Zone 3A, which is a coastal warm-humid climate,” said Jarrett Davis, who joined Built Environments in 2023 to lead the company’s building science practice. “There’s not a lot of product research in that climate zone, but there are a lot of structures here that get weatherized pretty severely.” Built Environments has provided building science, material testing and code compliance consulting for 25 years, ever since principal materials scientist Steve Doggett founded the company in Minnesota. “There are very few manufacturers that understand fully how their own materials and products work, whereas we know their shortfalls and their benefits out in the real world on jobsites,” Doggett said. “That’s why the original Built Environments was formed, to make buildings better.” He said the 15-employee company is just as comfortable on a jobsite, retrofitting a high-end beachside property, for example, as it is recreating some of the coast’s most intense weather conditions in the great indoors. The company operates an A2LA-accredited ISO/IEC 17025 mechanical testing laboratory on Wright Street. The year-old facility has expanded Built Environments’ in-house capabilities, Doggett said. “We’re able to simulate that hurricane wind (and) rain and perform structural and impact testing on wall assemblies, roof assemblies and glazing assemblies,” he said. “There are certain requirements that those windows and doors need to meet as far as wind ratings and pressure ratings and things of that nature.” Standard Glass Co.-Glass Depots, of Wilmington, is currently testing a new glazing system using Built Environments’ stress testing, the partners said. One method involves what’s called a “large missile cannon.” “We take 8-foot two-by-fours, and we shoot them at assemblies, so they have to withstand that impact,” Davis said. “It’s pretty cool to see, I’m not going to lie.” In many cases, the lab can run a full, wall-scale test of a product in a matter of weeks or months, whereas “it might take midrange manufacturers years,” Doggett said. “We’re nimble. We can cut that time in half.” The lab also develops intellectual property. Doggett, for example, shares a patent with Sustant LLC, of Minnesota, on a fastener patch to increase the air and water tightness within building envelopes. “We have too many ideas and not enough time,” he said. But the partners noted that they or their fellow principals – of which the company has four total, including a principal engineer and a principal codes and standards expert – could be anywhere on a given day, including in the courtroom providing expert testimony in contentious insurance cases. “Let’s say there is a fire on a structure,” Davis said. “We can analyze all the specific materials within that assembly – an exterior wall or something like that – because there are loads that require certain heat release. And so, we can measure each one of those materials, if need be, to say if this was likely or not a code-approved assembly.” Despite what can be inferred in a lab, the partners said nothing beats learning from how materials change over time under real-world strain. Take, for instance, the curious case of the creaking condo. “We recently had a customer that came to us trying to assess a sound issue of a roof. It was making noises that no one could explain or account for. How do you tackle something like that?” Doggett asked rhetorically. “There’s really no generally agreed-upon methodologies.” The problem turned out to be a faulty installation of a commercial roof system. “The building in this particular case was not local,” he said. “In the initial installation, the commercial roofing contractor installed the wrong fasteners in the wrong locations into the deck, and essentially the solar radiation was causing the building to move quite substantially early in the morning when the sun initially hit that assembly after a quite cool evening, causing the threads on the fasteners to kind of jump within the material, within the metal.” Built Environments designed an effective repair methodology that was within budget, the partners said. “We get the bizarre,” Doggett said. “I will say that’s something that has stayed the same over 25 years.” The partners said they are hiring, and that Cape Fear Community College is one of their main recruiting grounds. Davis and Doggett look for talented people who can understand traditional methodologies yet are open to on-the-job training and new understandings, they said. After all, it’s not just weather that can ruin a building. “My favorite saying is,” Davis said, “‘What are the eight most expensive words in construction? That’s how my daddy used to do it.’”
Original Nintendo Donkey Kong Artwork Goes to Auction at a Price That'll Make You Jump, Man
Former employee auctioning wealth of Nintendo treasures
Large dog breeds die younger. Biologists think they finally know why.
'Jumping genes' may explain shorter lifespans.
Workers are paying 9% more for family health coverage this year, a higher jump than in the recent past
A KFF survey finds that rising healthcare costs are squeezing both employers and workers.
Local sports hosts slam convoluted, costly Minnesota Wild game-broadcast logistics
If you want to watch Minnesota Wild games this season, you’ll have a few hoops to jump through. That’s the story for many NHL and NBA franchises this season, as the ripple effects of the demise of Main Street Sports Group and FanDuel Sports Network continue to be felt. For the Wild, it works like…
Stephen Wacker outlines his ‘new mandate’ for every Marvel comic
New Marvel EIC Stephen Wacker wants every Marvel comic to give readers enough context and excitement to keep reading, regardless of where they jump aboard.
Oil prices jump amid record tanker attacks in Hormuz
Oil prices climbed Thursday on continued worries about global supply and as record tanker attacks in the Middle East sent crossings through the Strait of Hormuz to a two-month low.
NVIDIA DGX Spark 64GB Launched and Big 128GB GB10 Price Increases
The NVIDIA DGX Spark 64GB is launching with a $4999 price as the 128GB model jumps to $6950 pushed by memory pricing
Lower US Treasury yield view persists despite biggest quarterly surge since 1994
US Treasury yields are forecast to fall over coming months, according to fixed income strategists in a Reuters poll who clung to their long-held view despite the benchmark 10-year yield recording its biggest quarterly jump since 1994.
Free Play Days – NBA 2K27, Crusader Kings III, The Alters, Bus Simulator 21, Soccer Story and Ravenswatch
Happy Free Play Days! Game Pass members can jump into NBA 2K27, Crusader Kings III, Bus Simulator 21, Soccer Story and Ravenswatch this weekend, while all XBOX players can enjoy a timed trial for The Alters.
Naji Marshall Knows Exactly What Mavericks Need From Him
After shooting 29.1% from 3-point range last season, Marshall spent the offseason rebuilding his jumper and set the bar high for himself this upcoming season.
Study finds simulation game helps students grasp complex health economics concepts
In Phillip Zane's classroom, students weigh an invitation to jump out of an airplane. The skydiving lesson and jump are free, and the exercise assumes there is zero risk of death. But an injury could ...
Your health insurance premiums may take a big jump in 2027
Many consumers are likely on the hook for an increase of about 10% or more in 2027, experts said.
Warm-Up Science Mapped: Nearly 1,000 Studies Reveal Where the Evidence Ends
A scoping review of 964 studies finds warm-up research dominated by short-term jump and sprint proxies, while injury endpoints, competition outcomes and real-world implementation remain strikingly underexplored.
Scientists Finally Figured Out Why Big Dogs Age Faster Than Small Dogs
A new study of nearly 900 dogs found that changes involving so-called 'jumping genes' may help explain why larger breeds have shorter lives.
PENN Entertainment (PENN) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
What Happened? Shares of casino, sports betting and entertainment operator PENN Entertainment NASDAQ:PENNjumped 5.3% in the pre-market session after Deutsche Bank upgraded the company to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $25 from $23.Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli upgraded the sh…
Health insurance premiums jump 9%, and more Americans don’t have access to coverage
Working-age U.S. adults without health insurance rose in 2026. Half of all uninsured people did not seek needed care because of cost concerns, according to a new survey.
Ausar Thompson Is Confident in His Rebuilt Jump Shot
Ausar Thompson says he is confident in his rebuilt jump shot after a full offseason of work. #Pistons
Commentary: Universal public health insurance is the answer
Employer-sponsored health insurance is rapidly deteriorating. In 2027, premiums are expected to see their largest single-year increase in two decades, jumping 11% and closing in on a nearly five-fold increase
UK inflation jumps to 3.5% on rising motor fuels cost; UK approves Jackdaw gasfield
Petrol and diesel costs rise the most in four years
Why Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Stock Is Up Today
Shares of global online betting powerhouse Flutter Entertainment (NASDAQ:FLUT) jumped 3.1% in the pre-market session after Citi analyst Monique Pollard upgraded the stock from a Neutral rating to a Buy rating.
Jessica Chastain's horror movie 'Other Mommy' is filled with jump scares. But is it actually scary?
Some critics say the film's nonstop attempts to frighten audiences ultimately have the opposite effect.
Wholesale inflation jumped in September by most in four years
US wholesale inflation shot higher in September, soaring to its highest level in more than four years, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed Thursday.
Why Paolo Banchero Needs Massive Leap Into Superstardom
Orlando must shatter a cycle of first-round exits, demanding that their cornerstone hunter trades jump-shot settling for interior dominance and elite efficiency to join the league's elite.
Christopher Ward Brings Back a Modern Classic, with Serious Improvements
Christopher Ward reimagines its original jump-hour watch with a new limited edition featuring an elevated design and a more compact size.
Commentary: Universal public health insurance is the answer
Employer-sponsored health insurance is rapidly deteriorating. In 2027, premiums are expected to see their largest single-year increase in two decades, jumping 11% and closing in on a nearly five-fold increase
Musk steps back into politics with redefined DC role
Elon Musk is jumping back into the political fray, reviving his role as a massive election spender and technology leader with a seat at the table again in Washington. Following a brief hiatus…
DCCC Jumps Into PA-01 Contest With Coordinated TV Ad For Harvie
How important is the 1st Congressional District race between Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Bucks County commissioner Bob Harvie to Democrats? For the first time in six years, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is making an investment in PA-01 with a coordinated TV ad for the Harvie campaign. Entitled "A…
Lionsgate Stock Jumps on Report Legendary Submitted a New Takeover Offer
Legendary Entertainment has revived its bid to acquire Lionsgate, according to a Bloomberg report.
Jump in on the fun at Pensacola's Launch Family Entertainment complex
How AI is reshaping microdramas as video format takes a ‘generational jump’
Microdrama industry insiders share effects of recent AI advances, from aiding editing to replacing actors. Is it a useful tool or a curse?
Minnesota health insurance premiums could jump as much as 21% in 2027
Without the reinsurance program, however, insurers' proposed average would have been 57.9%.
New Zealand third quarter business confidence jumps, says think tank
WELLINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - New Zealand's business confidence rose in the third quarter even as fuel prices increased and geopolitics remained a headwind for the country, a private think tank said on Tuesday. A net 43% of firms surveyed expected ge...
'Dude! No way!' Mission teams jump for joy over Artemis II science results
996 new images, 814 GB of observations and 521 minutes of never-before-heard crew audio.
Free Play Days – ARC Raiders, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Little Nightmares III, Screamer, and More
This weekend, Polterguys: Possession Party is available this weekend for XBOX Game Pass members, while WWE 2K26 and Wildgate are free for all. Jump in!
Lionsgate Studios Stock Jumps on Report of Takeover Bid by Legendary Entertainment
Lionsgate and Legendary have been in talks since last year, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. No price tag was reported.
Dodgers Should Jump on Proposed Trade for Abrams, Wood
After a disappointing postseason exit, the Los Angeles Dodgers could secure a dynasty by trading for the Washington Nationals' young stars.
12 spooky new movies and shows to watch this Halloween, from 'Carrie' to 'Clayface'
Whether you want jump scares, psychological thrills or something the whole family can handle, October's lineup has you covered.
NVIDIA’s 64 GB DGX Spark “AI Supercomputer” Launches This Month For $4999, While The 128 GB Spark Jumps Past $6000
NVIDIA is launching a new version of its DGX Spark AI Supercomputer which packs half the memory, but is priced the same as the 128 GB model.
Disney World guests banned after jumping into Epcot boat ride water
Disney World guests were banned after jumping into the Gran Fiesta Tour boat ride’s water at Epcot. ‘This behavior was unsafe and a clear violation of our park rules,’ a Disney World rep tells EW.
New Zealand third quarter business confidence jumps, says think tank
New Zealand's business confidence rose in the third quarter even as fuel prices increase and geopolitics remain a headwind for the country, a private think tank said on Tuesday.
How the Zelda Ocarina of Time remake changes the classic game’s script
At the start of the iconic 1998 Nintendo 64 game The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, our playable hero Link wakes up in his tree cabin, heads outside and is greeted by his friend Saria. “Yahoo! Hi, Stotil!" she says. In other people’s copies of the games, she might say “Hi, Link!” or “Hi, Brick!” or use whatever other name the player was allowed to input when first launching the game. The more important point is that she starts with a “Yahoo!” In Nintendo’s 2011 remake of Ocarina of Time for the 3DS handheld, Saria greets Link with that same word. But for the 2026 Switch 2 re-remake of Ocarina of Time, out November 5, Saria’s salutation has changed: “Hello, Link!” she exclaims. There’s no “Yahoo” to be heard. Last month, in an official Nintendo video preview, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma described the remake as a “faithful interpretation using modern technologies.” Faithful means the gameplay hasn’t changed much. Dungeons, quests, and just generally what you do in the game doesn’t seem to have changed, not based on what Nintendo has shown nor the hour of the game I played in New York City a couple of weeks ago. The graphics have been overhauled. The controls have been tweaked. Players can now manually control the camera and make Link jump with the press of a button, both notable differences from the original 1998 design. But Link’s journey appears to take the same path, with the same obstacles in its way. The remake’s biggest alteration to Ocarina of Time that I’ve spotted so far just might be the script. About the game’s story, Aonuma said in September, “We’ve added quite a lot of new dialogue for the characters, so that their personalities shine even more.” Earlier this month, I played a chunk of the Ocarina of Time remake at a Nintendo showcase. In the game’s earliest moments, I made a point of talking to characters and recording what they said. I found the script to be more colorful, more natural in its phrasing, more careful to establish its characters, and certainly more wordy even with the removal of that one “Yahoo!”. I’ve got some very early-game examples, so you can judge the new writing for yourself.
Sarasota employer surges into nation’s top 20 for health care workers
One of Sarasota County’s largest employers jumped from No. 75 to No. 17 nationally, earning Florida’s top spot for health care workers.
Lucky Strike Entertainment (NYSE:LUCK) Stock Jumps 14%
Lucky Strike Entertainment (NYSE:LUCK) Stock Price Up 14% - Here's What Happened
GTA 6 devs tried "not to jump on the bandwagon" of passing trends and instead created their "own slanted, overblown versions"
Grand Theft Auto 6 developers knew development would take "years and years," so avoiding trends was important in making the game "feel vital" come launch.
Three Reasons to Keep The Faith
It’s been a tough start to the season for Manchester United. Here are three reasons why I’m keeping the faith and not jumping overboard just yet. Kobbie Mainoo The United midfielder has made a massive leap, and the data backs it up. When Kobbie Mainoo first broke through, we knew he was a talent: he […]
Dodgers Couldn't Shake Skubal's Shakiness Against Brewers
The Los Angeles Dodgers had a chance to jump on Milwaukee Brewers pitching ace Jacob Misiorowski and earn a win in the National League Championship Series behind starter Tarik Skubal. That did not happen on Sunday night.
Railroads pull ahead as high fuel costs hit truckers harder
Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and CSX all reported jumps in third-quarter profit and revenue.
Andrew Garfield got ‘so scared’ playing basketball with Woody Harrelson: ‘He’s fiercely competitive’
The erstwhile Spider-Man actor “fully froze and folded” going up against the “White Men Can’t Jump” star.
Duke football earns respect in latest ESPN Power Rankings
Duke has jumped into the top 25 of ESPN's latest college football power rankings after a 4-0 start.
Beijing Zhongke WengeAI Science And Technology (SEHK:1956) Jumped 7%, Is It Fully Priced?
Beijing Zhongke WengeAI Science and Technology (SEHK:1956) drew attention after a sharp 7.4% gain in the latest session, a move that contrasts with its weaker performance over the past month and past three months. The sharp move in Beijing Zhongke WengeAI Science and Technology comes after a tougher stretch, with the share price return down 7.49% over the past month and 22.93% over the past quarter, contributing to a 38.63% year to date share price decline from the current HK$68.55...
Bryce Young Jumps 12 Spots In NFL QB Rankings
Bryce Young leaps to No. 9 in NFL QB rankings after a dominant win over Detroit. See the stats that changed the debate on his career.
Wednesday Morning Links
Morning, all! A palatial home in Montserrat that used to belong to Bob Simpson is going back on the market, so if you have $2-$4 million laying around make sure to jump in on the bidding. So what are the Rangers going to do to address a pitching staff that went from one of the […]
R.I. Health and Human Services head to replace Roger Williams, Fatima hospitals CEO
Revolving door? Richard Charest’s jump from government to industry raises ethics questions.
Former Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt joins Fox News
Leavitt joins a long line of former White House secretaries who have made the jump to TV news punditry.
Why BrightSpring Health Services (BTSG) Stock Is Up Today
What Happened? Shares of healthcare services provider BrightSpring Health Services (NASDAQ:BTSG) jumped 4.8% in the afternoon session after BMO Capital analy...
Samsung Q3 profit jumps nearly nine-fold as AI memory boom lifts chip earnings
Samsung Electronics on Thursday projected a nearly nine-fold jump in third-quarter operating profit from a year earlier, beating analysts' estimates as booming demand for artificial intelligence chips drove strong memory earnings.
Sphere Entertainment Jumps 6.4% After Guggenheim Maintains Buy
Sphere Entertainment Jumps 6.4% After Guggenheim Maintains Buy
Daredevil Jumped 25,000 Feet Without a Parachute. Now He Wants to Leap from Space: ‘That’s the Dream, the Drop-the-Mic Thing’
“Impossible is just an opinion,” said Luke Aikins, who hopes to jump from a rocket 330,000 feet above Earth
NBA Shooting Coach Would ‘Love’ To Help Kings’ Simmons
Renowned trainer Lethal Shooter offers to overhaul Ben Simmons’ broken mechanics, promising to rebuild the veteran forward’s jumper from scratch to unlock Sacramento’s full offensive potential.
DMZ for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 being released early, but Infinity Ward shoots down PvE hopes
If you're pre-ordering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Infinity Ward is giving you a reason to jump in every few days in the lead-up to launch.
In 'Digger,' Tom Cruise takes a wild swing worth seeing
Tom Cruise has hung off airplanes, performed crazy motorcycle jumps and run around the world for our cinematic entertainment.
Delta expects higher fares and strong demand through the holiday season
(CNN) — Delta Air Lines reported a huge jump in fuel costs, but said passengers are continuing to book flights despite the significantly higher airfares.
Global life expectancy nears pre-pandemic level, but healthy years lag behind: WHO
Healthy life loss linked to anxiety disorders up nearly 45% since 2019, while depressive disorders see around 20% jump, says UN agency | Anadolu
Nvidia debuts $4,999 DGX Spark with half the RAM and storage, amid memory crunch
Meanwhile 128 GB version jumps to $6,950, nearly 75% above its launch price
Arc Raiders Jumps to Six-Month High Player Count With 2.0 Update and Free Weekend
Embark Studios has put in a decent amount of work maintaining and developing Arc Raiders in recent months, with the company recently announcing an upcoming co-op mode slated to launch into testing on October 13 while it continues to iterate on its anti-cheat processes and detection methods. In...
How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy
Hey all, Jason here. Money20/20 is still two weeks away, but I’ve already started packing (not procrastinating for once!). My calendar is already filling up with various sessions I want to catch, meetings, and of course happy hours, dinners, and other side events. If you’ll be in Vegas and want to catch up, let me know by replying to this email, and we can try to find a time amidst the chaos of the Venetian. A big if not totally unexpected piece of news dropped on Friday: the Independent Community Bankers of America, a trade group that represents smaller U.S. banks, filed a lawsuit against the OCC and Comptroller Jonathan Gould, arguing that the regulator’s move to grant trust bank charters to firms seeking to use them to conduct substantial non-fiduciary activities exceeds the authorities granted to the OCC by Congress. I haven’t had time to fully digest the legal filing or speak to folks in my network about it, but you can expect to see coverage and analysis on it in next week’s newsletter. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading The NerdCon agenda just dropped. It’s stacked. Partner content: Nubank built an AI-first bank. Chime built its own banking core. Figure and Valon are rebuilding the mortgage stack. At NerdCon, you’ll hear from the people behind those bets: what they chose, what they learned, and what they’re still figuring out. The agenda is live, with leaders from Nubank, Chime, OpenAI, Remitly, Mercury, Figure, Valon and more. Follow the mainstage conversations, bring the problem your team is wrestling with to a hands-on workshop, or pull up a chair at a roundtable. Pick your quests. Meet us in San Diego, November 18–20. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% with code FBW20. Explore the Agenda Things To Know & Other Good Reads Federal Reserve Board finalizes changes to enhance the transparency and public accountability of its stress test and reduce volatility in its stress test-related capital requirements (Federal Reserve Board of Governors) FDIC Announces Conclusion of Independent Monitorship (FDIC) Modernizing Financial Regulation: Initial Observations from eSLR (Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman) The Data Version of Godzilla versus Kong: FRED Takes on AI (Fed Governor Christopher Waller) Financing the AI buildout (Brookings) Q3’26: Rules for Banks but Not for Crypto (Fintech Takes Banking) The Inevitability of Local Stablecoins (Lombard Notes) Delusions of AI Governance: The Human-in-the-Loop Comfort Blanket (Fintech Snark Tank) Stripe agrees to acquire Parafin to expand revenue opportunities for platforms and help small businesses grow (Stripe) Listen: Fighting Fraud in the Age of AI, with SEON’s Tamas Kadar (Fintech Business Weekly) How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy If there is one overarching theme across the economy and politics in the U.S. at the moment, it’s “affordability.” The term is vague enough to encompass a panoply of factors shaping Americans’ day-to-day lives: rising costs for the hallmarks of being “middle class,” including healthcare, housing, childcare, and education, inflation and rising interest rates, and a job market with the specter of AI hovering over it. At the same time, policy shifts under the Trump administration have resulted in reduced subsidies to those who get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and new restrictions on qualifying for Medicaid and SNAP, the impacts of which have yet to be fully felt. These factors are contributing to declining consumer confidence and general dissatisfaction with the economy, despite continuing GDP growth and stock market records. This divergence is encapsulated in the idea of the “K-shaped” economy, in which a small proportion of Americans have seen their wealth balloon, while the majority of American households struggle to preserve the lifestyle they have. Perhaps the greatest determinant of which branch of the “K” a household is on is whether their wealth and income are primarily derived from employment vs. from assets. Nearly two decades of low interest rates and, more recently, elevated rates of inflation have benefited asset owners, while those whose income is primarily or solely derived from labor have largely seen real purchasing power stagnate or decline. This is reflected in recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that labor share of U.S. GDP — the fraction of economic output that accrues to workers as compensation in exchange for their labor — dropped to just 52.8% in Q2 2026, the lowest since the BLS began keeping records. In 1947, approximately 2/3rds of economic output accrued to workers; even as recently as 2001, labor’s share of GDP was 64.1%. Against this backdrop, we’ve seen the rise of more credit and credit-like products: cash advance apps, “no-fee” overdraft, earned wage access, and buy now pay later, which are often used as small-dollar short-term borrowing mechanisms to meet immediate consumption needs or pay other bills (eg utilities, cell phone, other debt payments). With the markers of a middle class existence and, increasingly, basic financial stability seemingly out of reach for many, it should be no surprise there’s been an increase in “financial nihilism,” something industry peers like Alex Johnson and Frank Rotman have discussed and analyzed the roots of. The explosion of gambling and gambling-adjacent products and services — often marketed under the guise of being an “investment” — is inextricably intertwined with the rise of financial nihilism. Crypto, sports betting, and, more recently, prediction markets offer an escape or even hope of sorts, like a contemporary, digital version of a scratch-off lottery ticket, while leaving the overwhelming number of people who use such products worse off. Share of Households That Are Financially “Vulnerable” Ticks Up The Financial Health Network’s 2026 Financial Health Pulse® report adds context on how American households are faring. (I linked to this report in last week’s newsletter, but wanted to take time to further unpack the data in the report this week.) The Financial Health Network publishes the report annually, providing insight into how Americans’ financial circumstances are changing over time. The 2026 report is derived from a survey fielded in April and May 2026. The report leverages survey responses to assess indicators of financial health across spending, saving, borrowing, and planning/protecting and to determine a zero to 100 “FinHealth” score. Those with scores between 0 and 39 are considered “Financially Vulnerable,” consumers with scores ranging between 40 and 79 are defined as “Financially Coping,” and those with scores of 80 to 100 are “Financially Healthy.” The report found that moderate improvements in 2025 were reversed, with the share of respondents considered financially “vulnerable” rebounding to 17%. The longitudinal data reflect the impact of pandemic-era programs, like expanded unemployment, cash stimulus payments, and pauses of federal student loan payments. The positive impacts of those programs, as reflected in the Financial Health Pulse reports, had largely disappeared by 2023. While pandemic-era inflation — to be fair, in part caused by the various support and stimulus measures — had come down from as high as 9% in 2022, it has rebounded since the start of Trump’s second term, with tariffs and energy market disruptions owing to the war in Iran pushing prices back up. Specific indicators in the survey that deteriorated from 2025 to 2026 include the share of respondents spending less than their income over the past 12 months, the share paying all bills on time over the past 12 months, the share that have a manageable amount or no debt, the share that are “moderately” or “very” confident their insurance is adequate to cover them in an emergency, and the share that “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that their household plans ahead financially. Unsurprisingly, lower- and moderate-income households are more likely to struggle to pay their bills on time and have any funds leftover to save. The share of low-income households whose income exceeded their spending dropped from 35% in 2025 to 31% in 2026, while the share of upper-income households whose income exceeded expenses remained unchanged at 63%. Households with student loans or revolving credit card debt reported having “a bit more” or “far more” debt than was manageable at rates far higher than those not carrying these types of debts. The share of those with student loan debt indicating their debt load was too high to manage increased from 50% in 2025 to 55% in 2026, while the share of those with revolving credit card debt saying the same ticked up from 51% in 2025 to 54% in 2026. Households that had student loans were markedly more likely to be financially “coping” or “vulnerable” vs. those without student loans. In 2026, 27% of households with student loans were considered financially vulnerable, a jump of 6% points vs. 2025. Households without student loans saw just a 1% point increase (not statistically significant) in those considered financially vulnerable. Households’ perception of the affordability of categories of goods and services paints a stark picture, with less than one-fourth considering higher education affordable, about a third deeming childcare affordable, and less than half viewing healthcare as affordable. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Democratic Senate Report Highlights How Iran Uses Tether to Evade U.S. Sanctions Iran uses stablecoins, specifically Tether, to evade sanctions, fund regional proxies, and to purchase military drones, a report released last week by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations says. The report was authored by committee ranking member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and the minority staff. Crypto and stablecoin proponents will often push back on criticism that criminals make use of these assets by arguing that, on an absolute dollar basis, far more illicit funds flow through traditional banking systems and payment rails than via crypto and stablecoins. And while that is likely true, it elides the reality presented in news story after news story: whether state actors — Russia, Iran, North Korea — or criminal groups, those looking to engage in illicit transactions increasingly favor stablecoins and, specifically, Tether (USDT). The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released last week adds context to how Iran uses Tether has a lynchpin in its shadow banking system. The report analyzed 846 wallets that have been sanctioned or targeted for seizure, finding that 84% of them transacted exclusively or primarily in Tether. The ability to create near limitless, anonymous wallets and to move funds effectively instantaneously and irreversibly have made crypto a favored financial mechanism for bad actors. Stablecoins solved key drawbacks of bitcoin, namely, the original cryptocurrency’s highly volatile value in dollars. And while Tether (the company) has the technical ability to “freeze” or destroy funds, the company is often limited and reactive in its approach to doing so, the Senate report argues. Tether, which is nominally based in crypto-friendly El Salvador, “has stated that its compliance with OFAC sanctions is ‘voluntary’ and that it follows ‘OFAC guidelines,’” the Senate report says. Owing to these favorable attributes, Tether “became a primary cryptocurrency for Iran, Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis beginning in 2023 and has expanded in scale since,” according to the report. Tether’s role in Iran’s shadow banking system, the report says, is enhanced by crypto exchanges like Bybit, Kyrrex, OKX, Gate, and Binance, and through “over the counter” exchanges and hawala networks. The consequences of these financial flows aren’t hypothetical. The Senate report links Tether as a funds transfer mechanism to Iranian proxies in the region, including Hizballah, the Houthis, and Hamas. Tether has also been used to make payments to secure components necessary to manufacture drones, the report says. The report concludes by arguing that “[s]tablecoin issuers with a significant nexus to the United States, particularly those that offer dollar-denominated stablecoins, should be subject to American sanctions law rather than being allowed to hide behind foreign jurisdictions.” Stablecoin issuers like Tether must be held accountable for repeated failures to prevent illicit finance and sanctions violations by law enforcement, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and OFAC, the report argues. [Paying Subscriber Exclusive] OUSD Goes Live, Make Your Own Neobank, U.S. Sanctions Russia’s A7 Network As “Transnational Criminal Organization” OpenUSD, the stablecoin issued by the Open Standard consortium that includes Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, core providers, crypto firms, and numerous banks, went live last week. Social commerce platform Whop raised eyebrows in fintech by offering creators on its platform the ability to launch their own neobanks, which the company describes as “great businesses that are easy to run,” in just 15 minutes. And OFAC and FinCEN target Russia’s “shadow banking” A7 Network — more on these stories after the paywall.
Democrats jump into Mississippi Sente race
Senate Majority PAC announced it is launching a new ad campaign in Mississippi, where Democrat Scott Colom is challenging GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
Alliance Family Health Center, GentleBrook building Hartville clinic
The Alliance Family Health Center and GentleBrook are building a new health center in Hartville with help from a federal grant.
SpaceX quarterly revenue jumps, beats estimates as AI business surges
Oct 20 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's SpaceX on Tuesday said its third-quarter revenue more than doubled, beating estimates as AI and Starlink grew, while capital spending nearly tripled as it invested in compute infrastructure, sending its shares up about 3%...
Free Play Days – FARCRY 6, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Skull and Bones, The Crew Motorfest
This weekend, Polterguys: Possession Party is available this weekend for XBOX Game Pass members, while WWE 2K26 and Wildgate are free for all. Jump in!
Next Week on XBOX: New Games for October 5 to 9
Welcome to Next Week on XBOX! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in! Gears of War: […]
The Protect College Sports Act set out to stabilize conference membership, but the ACC is still at risk of being picked apart
The Senate has passed a bill that attempts to rein in spiraling costs, but it leaves room for half the ACC members to jump to other conferences.
Luka Doncic praises Adou Thiero's 'insane' improvement
Lakers second-year forward Adou Thiero could be poised to make a sizable jump this season.
Why Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Stock Is Up Today
What Happened? Shares of global online betting powerhouse Flutter Entertainment (NASDAQ:FLUT) jumped 3.1% in the pre-market session after Citi analyst Monique Pollard upgraded the stock from a Neutral rating to a Buy rating.Citi analyst Monique Pollard upgraded the shares in research carried by Str…
'Something for everyone' at Maggie Valley Arts and Craft Show
Jump-start your fall shopping at the 35th annual Maggie Valley Fall Arts and Crafts Show from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 17-18.
AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) Shares Up 4.8%
AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC) Stock Jumps 4.8% - What's Next?
Gemini 4 Argon Arrives With Big Claims for AI Agents and Scientific Discovery
Google just released the new Gemini 4 Argon, which it claims can generate up to a million tokens in a single run, a big jump for long code migrations and multi-step agent work. Competitors top out around 128,000 output tokens per request, so based on that claim, Argon’s 1 million is roughly 8x higher. Argon […]
Idaho health insurance premiums see big jump for 2027
The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) released its 2027 rates for Individual and Small Group Health Plans on the health insurance exchange, with both going up by an average of 12%. “Despite national pressures and ongoing medical inflation, Idaho’s health insurance market remains highly competitive and stable,” Director Dean Cameron said in a news release. […]
New Zealand third quarter business confidence jumps, says think tank
WELLINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - New Zealand's business confidence rose in the third quarter even as fuel prices increase and geopolitics remain a headwind for the country, a private think tank said on Tuesday. A net 43% of firms surveyed expec...
Josh Pate Thinks Florida Was Screwed Over in New Rankings
Despite a massive jump to eighth, critics argue the Gators' elite resume deserves more respect. A brutal October stretch will determine if Florida belongs in the playoff conversation.
UCA trustees approve 12% health insurance premium hike for employees
CONWAY -- University of Central Arkansas employees are set to see their health insurance premiums jump 12% after the university's Board of Trustees unanimously approved the increase Friday morning.
Cyber Insurance Adoption Surges Among Mid-Market Businesses While Small Firms Lag Behind
Mid-market business cyber insurance purchases jumped 34 percentage points since 2024 even as small businesses remain stalled at 42% adoption, according to Nationwide survey.
PENN Entertainment (PENN) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
Shares of casino, sports betting and entertainment operator PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) jumped 5.3% in the pre-market session after Deutsche Bank upgraded the company to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $25 from $23.
Coastal forces shape building sciences practice
When Built Environments relocated to Wilmington, the firm’s partners weren’t looking for the lazy tranquility one hopes for when on vacation. Instead, they sought sultry heat. They wanted to understand whipping coastal winds and punishing precipitation – the kind that tropical storms produce. That’s because how materials degrade can reveal a lot about how they can be improved. “We specifically chose the Wilmington market because it does fall within Climate Zone 3A, which is a coastal warm-humid climate,” said Jarrett Davis, who joined Built Environments in 2023 to lead the company’s building science practice. “There’s not a lot of product research in that climate zone, but there are a lot of structures here that get weatherized pretty severely.” Built Environments has provided building science, material testing and code compliance consulting for 25 years, ever since principal materials scientist Steve Doggett founded the company in Minnesota. “There are very few manufacturers that understand fully how their own materials and products work, whereas we know their shortfalls and their benefits out in the real world on jobsites,” Doggett said. “That’s why the original Built Environments was formed, to make buildings better.” He said the 15-employee company is just as comfortable on a jobsite, retrofitting a high-end beachside property, for example, as it is recreating some of the coast’s most intense weather conditions in the great indoors. The company operates an A2LA-accredited ISO/IEC 17025 mechanical testing laboratory on Wright Street. The year-old facility has expanded Built Environments’ in-house capabilities, Doggett said. “We’re able to simulate that hurricane wind (and) rain and perform structural and impact testing on wall assemblies, roof assemblies and glazing assemblies,” he said. “There are certain requirements that those windows and doors need to meet as far as wind ratings and pressure ratings and things of that nature.” Standard Glass Co.-Glass Depots, of Wilmington, is currently testing a new glazing system using Built Environments’ stress testing, the partners said. One method involves what’s called a “large missile cannon.” “We take 8-foot two-by-fours, and we shoot them at assemblies, so they have to withstand that impact,” Davis said. “It’s pretty cool to see, I’m not going to lie.” In many cases, the lab can run a full, wall-scale test of a product in a matter of weeks or months, whereas “it might take midrange manufacturers years,” Doggett said. “We’re nimble. We can cut that time in half.” The lab also develops intellectual property. Doggett, for example, shares a patent with Sustant LLC, of Minnesota, on a fastener patch to increase the air and water tightness within building envelopes. “We have too many ideas and not enough time,” he said. But the partners noted that they or their fellow principals – of which the company has four total, including a principal engineer and a principal codes and standards expert – could be anywhere on a given day, including in the courtroom providing expert testimony in contentious insurance cases. “Let’s say there is a fire on a structure,” Davis said. “We can analyze all the specific materials within that assembly – an exterior wall or something like that – because there are loads that require certain heat release. And so, we can measure each one of those materials, if need be, to say if this was likely or not a code-approved assembly.” Despite what can be inferred in a lab, the partners said nothing beats learning from how materials change over time under real-world strain. Take, for instance, the curious case of the creaking condo. “We recently had a customer that came to us trying to assess a sound issue of a roof. It was making noises that no one could explain or account for. How do you tackle something like that?” Doggett asked rhetorically. “There’s really no generally agreed-upon methodologies.” The problem turned out to be a faulty installation of a commercial roof system. “The building in this particular case was not local,” he said. “In the initial installation, the commercial roofing contractor installed the wrong fasteners in the wrong locations into the deck, and essentially the solar radiation was causing the building to move quite substantially early in the morning when the sun initially hit that assembly after a quite cool evening, causing the threads on the fasteners to kind of jump within the material, within the metal.” Built Environments designed an effective repair methodology that was within budget, the partners said. “We get the bizarre,” Doggett said. “I will say that’s something that has stayed the same over 25 years.” The partners said they are hiring, and that Cape Fear Community College is one of their main recruiting grounds. Davis and Doggett look for talented people who can understand traditional methodologies yet are open to on-the-job training and new understandings, they said. After all, it’s not just weather that can ruin a building. “My favorite saying is,” Davis said, “‘What are the eight most expensive words in construction? That’s how my daddy used to do it.’”
Sphere Entertainment jumps as investors appear to bet on a short-covering rebound
Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) is up 9.4% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.Analysis: There does not appear to be a single fresh company announcement driving Tuesday’s move, so the rally looks most likely tied to short covering and bargain hunting after a steep pullback earlier this month. Investors may also be revisiting Sphere’s underlying growth story, including strong performance from its Las Vegas ve
Manchester property values jump nearly 50%
The value of all property in Manchester increased by almost half — 48% ‑ over the past five years, according to preliminary data released by city officials on Oct. 13 The valuations, compiled due to a citywide revaluation, add up to $23.09 billion. The current value of city properties is $15.56 billion, which was based on assessments made during the city's last revaluation.
Ohio State Dominates Iowa In Record-Breaking Fashion
Ohio State returned to Kinnick Stadium for the first time since the 2017 beatdown, and it went significantly better this time around. For as frustrating as all three phases were for the Buckeyes, Ohio State was in control from the jump, only allowing a late touchdown when the game was well in hand. In the …
California students post gains in math, science and English in 2025-26
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California students made gains across key academic and success measures during the 2025-26 school year, with test scores rising in English, math and science while the statewide graduation rate reached a record high of 87.9 percent. For the first time, the state released assessment results and California School Dashboard data together to give families and educators a more complete picture of student performance.English language arts scores increased 0.5 percentage points to 49.3 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced, while math scores rose 1.1 percentage points to 38.4 percent. Science showed the strongest improvement, jumping 3.3 percentage points to 36 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced.The statewide chronic absenteeism rate dropped 1.1 percentage points to 18.3 percent. The suspension rate declined to 2.8 percent, marking the third consecutive year of improvement."At a time when California continues to focus on accelerating learning and closing opportunity gaps, these results provide important evidence that our sustained investments are making a difference," Gov. Gavin Newsom said. "The continued progress we are seeing is a testament to the hard work of students, families and educators across the state—and we will continue working to build on these gains."The percentage of students prepared for college and career increased to 55.2 percent, up 2 percentage points from the previous year. More than 54 percent of graduates completed coursework required for admission to University of California and California State University systems, an increase of 0.9 percentage points."California has made important strides in expanding student supports and opportunities, but the pace of academic improvement reminds us that our work is far from finished," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said.Eighth grade students posted the strongest score trends in both English language arts and math. Science performance improved across all tested grades, with the strongest gains at the high school level.African American students demonstrated larger-than-average improvements across English, math and science. Hispanic or Latino students showed larger-than-average improvements in English and math, with positive math score trends across all grades.Students who were socioeconomically disadvantaged made gains across all 3 subjects, including larger-than-average improvements in English and math. Students who were homeless continued to demonstrate gains across grades, with particularly strong improvements in math."We are encouraged to see students making gains across all 3 major assessments and are especially encouraged by the progress of African American students, Hispanic or Latino students, socioeconomically disadvantaged students and homeless youth," said Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the California State Board of Education.The progress comes as California's public school system undergoes significant demographic change. Statewide school enrollment declined to approximately 5.73 million students in 2025-26, nearly 500-thousand fewer students over the past decade.The number of students with disabilities increased approximately 25 percent over the same period, from about 680-thousand to more than 850-thousand students. Graduation rates increased across nearly all student groups, including notable increases for American Indian or Alaskan Native students at 4.3 percentage points and students with disabilities at 3.7 percentage points.In Downey Unified School District, the rate of students demonstrating proficient or advanced grade-level knowledge increased by 2.1 percentage points in English, 2.8 percentage points in math and 4.7 percentage points in science. The district aligned graduation requirements with college admission expectations and invested in inclusive special education practices, expanded career technical education and expanded learning opportunities."The gains Downey Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of years of focused, consistent work across the district," Superintendent Roger Brossmer said.In Exeter Unified School District, proficiency rates increased by 4.6 percentage points in English, 2.3 percentage points in math and 3.6 percentage points in science. The district placed a strong focus on phonics and the science of reading, particularly in kindergarten through second grade."The gains Exeter Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of having great people who are focused on the right work, and great students who want to do well," Superintendent Melanie Dorough said.Union Elementary School District saw proficiency rates increase by 1.5 percentage points in English, 2 percentage points in math and 4 percentage points in science. Teachers regularly analyze state and local assessment data to guide instruction, supported by strong core instruction and early literacy strategies."Union Elementary School District's achievement gains reflect a focused, data-driven approach to meeting the needs of every student while fostering a strong sense of belonging, safety and connection," Superintendent Carrie Andrews said.The California Department of Education is examining local results to better understand strategies and conditions associated with stronger student outcomes. The state has made significant investments in recent years, including literacy and math coaching, tutoring, expanded learning opportunities, community schools and universal transitional kindergarten.
James Madison University jumps to a different athletic conference. Here’s the political question that’s not being asked.
The Dukes will move from the Sun Belt Conference to the American Conference by July 1, 2028. That should bring JMU more broadcast revenue, but will it reduce the school’s unusually high depen…
Large dog breeds die younger. Biologists think they finally know why.
'Jumping genes' may explain shorter lifespans.
Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
Shares of global online betting powerhouse Flutter Entertainment (NASDAQ:FLUT) jumped 4.4% in the afternoon session after Citi analyst Monique Pollard upgraded the company from a Neutral rating to a Buy rating. According to StreetInsider, Susquehanna analyst Joseph Stauff separately cut his price target to $100 from $115 and kept a Positive rating. He said third-quarter profit is likely to be lower and that the weaker result is already discounted. The stock, he said, is most sensitive to FanDuel
<b>Doctors, engineers and computer scientists leave Israel.</b> Researchers sound alarm
The number of Israelis leaving the country has jumped by dozens of percent over the last three years, while the number of those returning has fallen. Researchers warn of a collapse of the Israeli economy if the trend continues
Learn Why The Bull Case For Madison Square Garden Entertainment Stock Could Change Following Revenue Jump
Madison Square Garden Entertainment reported revenue of US$1.1b, up 13% year on year, supported by the New York Knicks’ NBA Championship run and record sales for its Christmas Spectacular. The 30 day Harry Styles residency now under way at the Garden underscores how concentrated, high profile bookings can deepen event utilization across an already busy venue portfolio. We will look at how Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s investment narrative is affected by this 13% revenue jump and...
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Original Cast Spooktacular coming to New York City for film’s 50th anniversary
It’s just a jump to the left and a step to the right — right into New York City as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” Original Cast “Spooktacular” Tour makes its
'Other Mommy' is packed with jump scares. Why our brains can't resist them.
Jessica Chastain's new horror movie is here — and it is bound to have some audience members scared witless.
High school sports roundup for Oct. 9-10, 2026
Friday October 9 Football Mountlake Terrace defeated Lynnwood 35-0 Mountlake Terrace jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half on Homecoming Night and cruised to a 35-0 victory […]
Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
What Happened? Shares of global online betting powerhouse Flutter Entertainment (NASDAQ:FLUT) jumped 4.4% in the afternoon session after Citi analyst Monique Pollard upgraded the company from a Neutral rating to a Buy rating. According to StreetInsider, Susquehanna analyst Joseph Stauff separately…
Peek into hidden worlds revealed by the 2026 Nikon Small World contest
This year’s photomicrography contest captured the wonders of the very small, from flying ink droplets to the most adorable jumping spider you've ever seen.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on Amazon Luna as part of Prime subscription
"Luna players can jump into the single-player campaign the moment it launches without needing to own a console or wait for a lengthy download"