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Virginia state senator accused of shielding marijuana business
Fox News chief Washington correspondent Mike Emanuel reports on the federal indictment against state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Va., on ‘Special Report.’
What impact will Louise Lucas arrest have on Virginia politics?
Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas appeared in federal court in shackles, facing marijuana trafficking, money laundering and corruption charges.
Health Sciences and Marine & Environmental Sciences Programs Launch In
A new University of New Haven initiative brings together Health Sciences and Marine & Environmental Sciences faculty to advance accessible science education, inclusive learning, and community-engaged
Nintendo Switch 2 Gets Its First Software-Only Jailbreak, With Help From OpenAI Codex
Sammy Hajhamid, a security researcher who goes by pepsipu online, has released ns2jb, a software-only jailbreak for the Nintendo Switch 2 that runs on the latest 23.0.1 firmware. To show it off, Hajhamid modded Mario Kart World, a Switch 2 exclusive, and also dropped Peter Griffin, Hatsune Miku,...
Tottenham’s 2027-28 away kits will be primarily pink
PINK! PINK KITS! (Don’t like the gold, though.)
Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lucas accused of leading marijuana criminal conspiracy
U.S Attorney General Todd Blanche says a powerful Democratic Virginia state senator was charged with leading a criminal marijuana enterprise.
Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lucas accused of leading marijuana criminal conspiracy
U.S Attorney General Todd Blanche says a powerful Democratic Virginia state senator was charged with leading a criminal marijuana enterprise.
Students Take a Bus Ride to a Different Rutgers
A new seminar helps undergraduates connect their interests to research they never knew existed For Dave Bushek, the obstacle to bringing students to Rutgers’ field stations across New Jersey was getting them there. A visitor to Rutgers’ shellfish research facilities wondered why more students weren’t seeing them, too. Bushek, a professor of marine and coastal […]
Question 3 would create all-party primary
Ballot Question 3 would eliminate political party primaries in Massachusetts and establish a single, all-party primary.
NBCUniversal's Home Entertainment, Live Plays Business Segment Sees 12.7% Q3 Revenue Decline
NBCUniversal’s studios’ “other” business segment, which includes home entertainment, live plays and third-party content distribution, reported revenue of $285 million, down 12.7% from revenue of $326 million in the previous-year period. Top-selling titles in the quarter included Obsession, Disclosure Day and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, among others. Overall studios segment operating income increased 18.6% … Continue reading "NBCUniversal’s Home Entertainment, Live Plays Business Segment Sees 12.7% Q3 Revenue Decline"
Powerful Virginia Lawmaker Indicted Over Marijuana Business
L. Louise Lucas, a Democrat from Portsmouth, was the focus of F.B.I. searches earlier this year.
Henrico Planning Commission advances proposed marijuana business regulations to board of supervisors
A new package of zoning restrictions on recreational marijuana businesses will advance to the Henrico Board of Supervisors, after the Henrico Planning Commission blessed the proposal Oct. 15. Commissioners voted unanimously for approval after only a few questions and no comments from the public. Supervisors will consider the regulations during
Federal prosecutors accuse Sen. Louise Lucas of using political power to benefit marijuana enterprise
Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas was indicted Thursday on federal charges accusing her of leading a criminal marijuana enterprise and using her position as one of the state’s most powerful legislators to protect the operation and pursue financial benefits from Virginia’s emerging recreational marijuana industry.
Patriots vs. Bears Key Matchup: DeMario Douglas vs. Kyler Gordon in the Slot
Many want to talk about Drake Maye and Caleb Williams in tonight's game, but there may be a war in the slot position tonight between "Pop" Douglas and star nickel defensive back Kyler Gordon.
Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas indicted in connection with marijuana business
Lucas, the 82-year-old president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, is one of the state’s most powerful Democrats.
Marion father who strangled son ordered to remain at mental health facility
Progress report indicates Matthew Schleier should stay at a mental health facility.
Politics and Culture Are Downstream of Anthropology and Theology
If Western culture is to survive and flourish, we must recover both the religious and the anthropological vision out of which it arose.
A political bogeyman has emerged in L.A.: Ousted D.A. George Gascón
George Gascón has disappeared from public life. But critics are trying to tie the unpopular ex-prosecutor to candidates Nithya Raman and Marissa Roy.
WT Natural Sciences Department to honor Steed as graduate of distinction
A giant in the area energy industry will be honored by West Texas A&M University’s Department of Natural Sciences at an upcoming event.
Sundar Pichai explains how AI agents help him run Google
Sundar Pichai's AI agents summarize internal discussions and monitor Google's compute usage, helping him keep up without having to read every update.
Commission announces plan for polar hub to step up research coordination
The European Commission plans to develop an EU polar research hub to strengthen coordination and improve the alignment between science and policy. The objective, according to a Commission official, is to “better connect research, observation and scientific infrastructure, improve access to research resources and strengthen coordination with stakeholders, including Indigenous people.”Announced in a new EU Arctic strategy on October 20, there is little detail yet on how the hub will be implemented, only that it will “reinforce and expand” the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO), which is hosted and managed by the European Polar Board (EPB) at Umeå University in Sweden. EPCO was born from the EU-PolarNet projects funded through Horizon 2020 and currently coordinates the EU Polar Cluster, a network of EU-funded collaborative polar projects.While the practical details remain to be defined, the decision sends “a clear and positive signal,” said Maria Grigoratou, head of EPCO and executive secretary of EPB. “By reinforcing EPCO, the Commission has an opportunity to build on the legacy of EU-PolarNet 2, strengthen European polar research coordination and expand cooperation with a broader range of Arctic stakeholders,” she told Science|Business.The move has been welcomed by the polar research community. “The polar research hub could play an important role in connecting existing research communities, observation systems and infrastructure, and in bringing scientific knowledge closer to policymaking, in cooperation with local communities and Indigenous people,” said Katrine Moland Hansen, director of operations at Norway’s Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center.But money will be an issue. “It is clear that EPCO will need more resources and structure to function well and to make research reach policymakers,” said Kati Lindström, vice-chair of the Polar Research Committee of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. “European polar research is big if we pool the resources, and it should not only be left to enthusiastic scientists to develop networks of strategic importance in their free time.”The Arctic strategy makes a point of saying that local communities should have a greater involvement in Arctic science. “All EU Arctic research consortia are mandated to invite Indigenous people representatives to participate in projects,” it reads. “The EU also supports research that is directly led by Indigenous communities and address their challenges.”It also underlines the importance of reinforcing collaboration with like-minded partners such as Norway, Iceland, Canada, the UK, Japan and South Korea, as well as deepening its engagement with NATO. This includes the US, with which “the EU is committed to continuing a pragmatic transatlantic engagement based on shared interests and values.”Related articlesViewpoint: Does Europe dare to invest in the Arctic?Anchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateFor Moland Hansen, this open and inclusive approach to cooperation is encouraging. “The Arctic is also a strong example of why equal participation of associated countries in EU funding instruments matters.”Overall, she finds the new Arctic strategy to be ambitious, timely and comprehensive. “We particularly welcome the recognition that climate change, environmental protection, security, resilience and competitiveness are closely interconnected,” she said. “Research, observations and forecasting capabilities are essential to understanding the rapid changes taking place in the Arctic and addressing these challenges together.”Security focusWhile the Arctic strategy foregrounds security, with pledges to protect undersea cables, boost satellite monitoring, deploy more icebreakers and improve military mobility, the polar community is satisfied that environmental concerns have not been forgotten.“It is inevitable that there is a strong security angle to the EU Arctic strategy, but the impact of climate change and need for climate mitigation and resilience is also strongly recognised and includes a pledge to stay the course on climate commitments,” said Sian Prior, lead advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, a coalition of campaigning non-profit organisations.“We need to remember that by the time the next Multiannual Financial Framework comes to an end, in 2034, the polar regions, especially the Arctic region, will be living under a new reality when it comes to ecosystem processes, when it comes to the climate,” Grigoratou went on. “And that will affect any ambition that humans may have in the region.”Lindström agreed. “All aspects of European security are dependent on climate change in the Arctic and consequently, on climate science,” she said. “We cannot close our eyes to issues like energy security, critical minerals, northern shipping routes, dual-use technologies and others. However, it remains to be seen how well the promises to protect the environment and Indigenous rights will hold when faced with critical mineral extraction under the Critical Minerals Act.”
Maryland artist creates Black maternal health flag out of hospital baby blankets
“Black maternal health deserved a symbol and something to bring awareness,” Prince George’s County artist Lex Marie said.
T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach's exes announce engagement
Marilee Fiebig and actor Andrew Shue, former spouses of newly married journalists T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, are engaged.
Seattle Mariners Manager Search: Is Stephen Vogt Still in Play?
The current skipper of the Cleveland Guardians could be an option after all.
WA hospitals face $6B threat, new report says
Hospitals in WA could lose nearly $6 billion by 2033 due to HR 1 cuts to Medicaid, according to a new report from Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 – Detailed Impressions of the Necron and AdMech Factions
I had a great time getting chromed up with the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Necrons in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4. The campaign story really starts to come together in some interesting ways in its second chapter. And the ways both of these factions control space differently feel like engaging and welcome additions to the roster compared to the more straightforward playstyle of Orks and Space Marines.
Making Marie Antoinette review – sweet Coppola home movie indulges the family business
Shot by Sofia’s mother Eleanor this documentary shows something of the strain of shooting a period piece, but is a far cry from the tumultuous portrait of her husband in Hearts of Darkness
Glendale business owner sues federal government over 2025 raid
Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll.
Why this Glendale business owner is suing the U.S. government
Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll. Zach Prelutsky reports.
Why this Glendale business owner is suing the U.S. government
Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll. Zach Prelutsky reports.
Why this Glendale business owner is suing the U.S. government
Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll. Zach Prelutsky reports.
Why this Glendale business owner is suing the U.S. government
Mario Ayala said he is trying to keep the business running, but the uncertainty and damage from the raid has taken a toll. Zach Prelutsky reports.
A 1960 Science Paper Set Doomsday for Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, and Its Population Math Held Up for Three Decades
A 1960 Science paper predicted doomsday on Nov. 13, 2026. There is no threat, but its population equation beat most forecasts until about 1993.
Who do you look up to in Iowa politics? Iowa's Congressional District Debate
Who do you aim to emulate in Iowa politics? Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Christina Bohannan respond during KWQC's 1st District debate.
Jason Segel, Kayla Radomski marry at SoCal's Huntington
Actor Jason Segel and dancer Kayla Radomski are husband and wife. The pair celebrated their marriage at SoCal's sprawling Huntington in San Marino.
Marine life dramatically declined in Gulf of Mexico in years after BP oil spill, study finds
In the years after the 2010 BP oil spill, the number of fish in the deeper parts of the Gulf of Mexico dramatically declined.
Kenny Atkinson Makes Candid Admission About Mario Hezonja’s Cavaliers Role
Kenny Atkinson says Cleveland is still learning how Mario Hezonja fits and does not want to put the returning NBA veteran in a box.
There's A Suspicious-Looking Hole On The Moon, And NASA's Going To Investigate It With A Surface Mission
The Moon is covered in pits and craters to choose from, but the Marius Lunar Pit has NASA's attention.
Arizona Small Business Seizures
The Case On the morning of Feb. 25, 2025, Mario Ayala was in Mexico visiting his dying father. Unfortunately, Mario had to cut that trip […]
OU's goal remains the same: 'Make the playoffs'
Following the 21-13 loss to No. 12 Kentucky on Saturday night, OU defensive backs Omarion Robinson and Reggie Powers and tight end Hayden Hansen recapped the game.
France could face even worse destruction with second weekend of planned riots, State Dept warns
An internal State Department document warns antifascist protests near Marine Le Pen's National Rally congress in Orléans could spark new unrest.
Macron jets out of riot-torn France for Gulf trip as political pressure mounts
French President Emmanuel Macron left for Kuwait energy talks as riots raged, drawing sharp criticism from Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Docktober invites folks to join citizen scientists in peeking under docks
Oregon naturalist leads the global Docktober movement, encouraging citizen scientists to discover and document the marine life thriving beneath public docks.
Romania Politics Government
Romanian Prime Minister designate Luca Niculescu, left, talks to the Interior Minister designate, Marian Neacsu during a joint parliament session called to give a vote of confidence for the new
Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) on X
WTF India?!?! Your entertainment industry needs a revamp Writer: Ian
Could This Centuries-Old Seafood Delicacy Hold Clues to Better Brain Aging?
Sea pineapples, a type of sea squirt known as meongge in Korea and hoya in Japan, contain compounds with potential anti-aging benefits. A study found that plasmalogens extracted from these marine animals improved memory, reduced brain inflammation, and promoted black hair growth in aging mice. But could eating this seafood offer similar benefits to humans?
$55 million gift to fund Marietta College housing, health sciences facility
MARIETTA — Marietta College plans to renovate three first-year residence halls, remove several campus buildings and open a graduate health sciences facility on Fourth Street with support from a $55 million gift commitment from Joe and Linda Chlapaty. President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty announced the commitment Friday during her State of the College address, held during […]
Arpit Davé on Using Tech to Deliver Greater Impact for Patients
Learn how BioMarin’s Chief Digital and Information Officer envisions using technology to accelerate innovation for people with rare genetic conditions.
We Might Finally Know What's Written On That Mysterious Plaque In Super Mario 64
The plaque's message has haunted the internet for 30 years.
This Week: Politics 101, 20th Street Bikeway, Muni Trivia
Here is a list of events this week. Monday/Tonight! SF Politics 101 with Joel Engardio. Learn how local politics shaped San Francisco. Monday/tonight, October 19, 5:30-6:45 p.m. SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission Street, S.F. Wednesday 20th Street Protected Bikeway Ribbon Cutting. The Oakland Department of Transportation, city officials, Bike East Bay and other community partners will celebrate the completion of the 19th Street BART to Lake Merritt Urban Greenway. Wednesday, October 21, 1:30 p.m. 400 Thomas L Berkley Way, Oakland. Thursday 2026 Silver SPUR Awards. This SPUR event brings together elected officials and business, civic, and philanthropic leaders to celebrate four individuals and their contributions. Thursday, October 22, 4-7:30 p.m. Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, 700 Howard Street, S.F. Get tickets here. Friday Woman and Non-Binary Morning Ride. Join the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for a socially distanced bike ride for women and nonbinary cyclists. Friday, October 23, 7:15-8:45 a.m. McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan Street, S.F. Friday Muni Trivia Night. Bring your friends or come solo and make some new ones. Friday, October 23, 7:30 p.m. Standard Deviant Brewing, Pier 70, suite 195, 1070 Maryland Street, S.F. RSVP here. Saturday Fifth Annual Firefighter Family Ride. Join SFFD, SF Safe Routes to School, and the SF Bicycle Coalition for a fun, low-stress bike ride through one of the city’s most beautiful routes. Saturday, October 24, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Panhandle Park Blacktop (Fell & Ashbury) to JFK Promenade (Whale’s Tail). Sunday Canvas for No on Prop G. Join the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition to canvas for No on ‘G’ to save Sunset Dunes Park. Sunday, October 25, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Marina Blvd & Laguna Street, S.F. Got an event we should know about? Drop us a line.
Super El Niño forces dramatic color shift in the Pacific — as record-breaking temperatures threaten marine life
Marine Science Center Releases 6 Rehabbed Sea Turtles
Six sea turtles were recently released in Volusia County after being rehabilitated at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. All of the turtles were juvenile green sea turtles. The release …
Following 'millions' of computations, a coder is convinced they've deciphered the mysterious plaque in Super Mario 64
Serious Computer Business
Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez fights to keep a foothold in Pacific Northwest's Trump country
Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington has won twice in a district that voted for Trump, making her one of the few rural Democrats in Congress.
Deutsche Telekom Leverages AudioCodes VoiceAI Connect to Bring AI-Powered Services to Mobile Business Customers
/PRNewswire/ -- Highlights Deutsche Telekom is leveraging AudioCodes VoiceAI Connect for Voice AI Notes Mobile, its new service that automatically summarizes...
eMed Population Health Appoints Marisstella Marinkovic as Chief Communications Officer
/PRNewswire/ -- eMed Population Health today announced the appointment of Marisstella Marinkovic as Chief Communications Officer (CCO). A transformational...
How Science Is Helping Coastal Communities Build Resilience to El Niño
The current El Niño may become the strongest in modern recorded history. The naturally occurring climate phenomenon, primarily associated with persistent, high ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, could have global-scale effects on weather and ocean conditions through 2027.
A new tool makes mapping the ocean easier
UCSB marine scientists have developed a new, open-source software package that makes it faster and simpler to find, organize and map data about the world’s oceans.
Someone has used computational analysis to decide what Mario 64’s infamous plaque says, and it’s not ‘L is Real 2401’
Millions of tests were run to find the closest possible match…
When Science and Art Overlap
Mariana Rocha’s paintings cross thresholds between figurative and non-figurative, human and non-human, living and non-living.
Nutex Health Schedules 2026 Third Quarter Financial Results Release and Conference Call
Nutex Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUTX), a physician-led, integrated healthcare delivery system comprised of 28 state-of-the-art micro hospitals and hospital outpatient departments in 12 states and primary care-centric, risk-bearing physician networks, today announced that it plans to file its Form 10-Q for the third fiscal quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, after the market close. The Company will also issue a corresponding press release summarizing financial results on the same
Inside a Republican’s business safety record, under scrutiny in key House race
Public records and interviews with ex-workers shed light on a company run by John Braun, who is challenging Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washington).
“A valid entertainment” – Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez (adapted by Lucas Nine)
What we have here is a graphic version of about a quarter of Mariana Enriquez’ debut short story collection, Things We Lost in the Fire. If you have even a cursory knowledge of Enriquez (via Things…
Two new-to-science subterranean fishes reveal a hidden world underneath
A decade ago, Wimarithy K. Marak, a resident of Assam’s Goalpara district, often used to encounter a small pink creature in her neighbourhood’s wells. She simply thought of it as a worm infesting her locality. In 2021, after she became a researcher, she stumbled upon the creature again while drawing water from a well. “This […]
'All INdiana Politics': Secretary of State candidates face off on voting reform and business portals
INDIANAPOLIS — The race for Indiana Secretary of State is taking center stage as four candidates vie to lead the office responsible for state elections and business licensing. The contest features former congressional aide Max Engling running as the Republican nominee, lawyer and former Marine Corps infantry officer Beau Bayh carrying the Democratic banner, small […]
Newsom announces mental health support for USS Abraham Lincoln sailors
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced expanded mental health support for Sailors and Marines returning to San Diego following a 321-day deployment on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Maria Hafez: Can Medical Research Go Beyond Publications to Create Real Impact?
Maria Hafez: Can Medical Research Go Beyond Publications to Create Real Impact? / cancer, Maria Hafez, OncoDaily, Oncology
RJ Mitte’s story offers insight into life with cerebral palsy and mental health issues
Letter: Dr Denise Al Mari-de Waal and Aaron Hume call for lifelong support and an integrated care pathway that recognises the physical and mental health impacts of cerebral palsy
First-of-Its-Kind Egyptian Study Reveals Saudi Arabia’s Socioeconomic Transformation Through Entertainment
A pioneering Egyptian doctoral study in management at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) has revealed a profound
Meet the marine technician documenting Antarctica's beauty while protecting its future
Andrew Naslund crosses the world's roughest sea to help scientists study Antarctica's fastest-warming region.
Dispensaries, mental health facility, other projects planned in central Pa.
The medical-related projects include counseling centers, places to get medical marijuana and physical therapy cinics.
Veryon Unveils AI-enabled Bizjet Maintenance Platform
Integrated workflow aims to streamline and simplify troubleshooting
Mental health support available for USS Abraham Lincoln sailors
Support is being offered to sailors and Marines returning from the USS Abraham Lincoln, including help for families during readjustment.
Newsom offers mental health support for USS Abraham Lincoln sailors
Sailors and Marines who recently returned from an extended deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were offered mental health services Saturday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Marin community health centers warn against Prop. 44
The initiative on the Nov. 3 ballot that would require community health clinics to spend 90% of their revenue on program services.
LSU Tigers Face Mississippi State Without Star QB
LSU hosts Mississippi State on Saturday as star QB Kamario Taylor sits out with injury. Get the latest stats, weather, and key matchups before the game.
Moonlight Market returns to Frankfort Marina
The Moonlight Market will return to Frankfort for the seventh year from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, according to organizers.
‘Business-like’ win for Cadets over Warriors
BEVERLY – It was just another “business-like” effort for the visiting Fort Frye Cadets Friday night as they rolled to a 34-6 win over the Warren Warriors. The Cadets didn’t do anything new or fancy or different they simply did what they do on most Friday nights and that is execute their game plan to […]
Proposed AI Governance Framework: Risk-Mitigation Recommendations for Health Plans
Senator Maria Cantwell has outlined a comprehensive AI governance framework intended to drive legislative and executive actions addressing potential AI risks — and for health plans, this framework could determine how AI can be used in prior authorization and other consequential clinical and administrative decisions. The framework explicitly calls out AI-assisted prior authorization — including CMS's WISeR model — as an area where meaningful human oversight is required. Read our alert for six risk-mitigation recommendations health plans should take now.
Marián Janík Wins ESET Science Award For Quantum Dot Research
Marián Janík wins the ESET Science Award for his quantum dot research with fellowQUTE, helping to advance quantum technologies in Slovakia.
Emerald Bay Camping & Marine Science Adventure
NAC Avalon Ocean Club embarked on its first-ever overnight camping adventure down the coast to Emerald Bay. This marked the farthest and longest our young ocean warriors have ventured from Avalon as a team, and what an incredible 24 hours it was. What started as an idea became a reality through an amazing collaboration with […]
Amarillo VA Health Care System to host Veterans Flue Fairs next week
The Amarillo VA Health Care System set to host a walk-in Veterans Flue Fair Next week, October 19-24.
Patriots WR talks difference between Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel
Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas revealed the key difference between the Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel eras.
Scientists Kept Finding The Same Mysterious DNA In Their Samples. The Marine Microbe It Belongs To Has The Smallest Genome Ever Identified
This tiny marine organism may demonstrate just how little genetic material a cell needs to survive.
Scientists Discovered Two Bizarre New Sea Spiders, and One Has Red Eyes and Hairy Legs
They may not be true spiders, but these ancient marine arthropods are stranger than anything crawling across land.
Things an interior designer would never have in her kitchen
Interior designer Lane Mari shared some common design mistakes, cabinet styles, and lighting options she would never put in her own kitchen.
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Morocco health alert issued due to diphtheria: US Embassy
In the North African country of Morocco, the country’s Ministry of Health reported a small diphtheria outbreak with clusters in multiple regions in Morocco in late September. Moroccan health teams are tracing contacts and providing preventive treatment and vaccines. This has prompted the US Embassy to issue a health alert for U.S. citizens in Morocco. Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. It spreads primarily from person to person through coughs and sneezes (respiratory droplets). Most Americans were vaccinated as children and have received Td or TdaP boosters as adults. The risk to U.S. citizens in Morocco remains low. U.S. Citizens may contact their local doctors if they would like immunizations. Embassy officials advise citizens to watch out for the following symptoms: Sore throat or hoarse voice, mild fever, a thick gray or white coating in the throat or nose, swollen neck and trouble swallowing or breathing. If you or a family member has trouble breathing or swallowing, please contact your local doctor. They also advise on the following actions concerning vaccines: Check your vaccination records and your family members’ records. Get a booster if you need one. Adults need a diphtheria booster (Td or Tdap) every 10 years. Make sure your children are up to date on their routine vaccines. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
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