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Ohio Appeals court rules EdChoice private school voucher system unconstitutional

An Ohio appellate court has ruled that the EdChoice voucher program, which uses taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition, is unconstitutional.

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Oct 15 • 9:48 AM EDT • Politics • news5cleveland.com
How lost fibre in sugar impacts health and how we can get it back

The loss of fibre in sugar has led to numerous diseases; the solution may lie in redesigning food and restoring beneficial biological signals.

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Oct 15 • 9:24 AM EDT • Health • weforum.org
Free Lamanda Park Workshop Hands Would-Be Business Owners a 17-Item Checklist

Starting a business in Pasadena comes with a list: a name, a legal structure, insurance, financing and a city business license that has to be renewed every year. A two-hour workshop Saturday at a Pasadena branch library aims to put that list in order. SCORE Los Angeles, the nonprofit presenting the session, says attendees will leave with a 17-item checklist of steps for getting a business established. The Pasadena Public Library is sponsoring the workshop, according to SCORE. The listing says the session is meant for people thinking about starting a business and for those who have recently started one. SCORE wrote that the program “cuts through the confusion and chaos” of figuring out what it takes to start a business. According to the listing, it covers the legal requirements for a start-up business, along with other practical steps worth taking. Beyond those basics, the session covers taxes, the elements of a business plan and marketing, according to the listing. It also weighs the pros and cons of different legal structures, examines the major causes of business failure and offers ways to avoid legal problems. Attendees will hear how SCORE can help new businesses succeed. Some of the rules a new owner must follow are local. The city’s Department of Finance requires that annual license to be displayed prominently at the place of business. Businesses that sell tangible goods also need a state seller’s permit showing their Pasadena address, and any business that prepares or sells food needs approval from the Pasadena Health Department, according to the department. Even charities are covered: “Charitable non-profit businesses are required to obtain a business license,” the department’s guidance says. SCORE lists two instructors for the workshop. Dick Mader, a SCORE mentor who serves on the chapter’s board of directors, started a media distribution

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Oct 15 • 9:22 AM EDT • Business • pasadenanow.com
How wild cotton on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula could improve crops worldwide

Researchers recently traced the birthplace of the world's dominant cotton species to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Their sleuthing also uncovered a treasure trove of genetic diversity in wild populations, which could eventually make the crop more resilient.

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Oct 15 • 9:15 AM EDT • Business • houstonpublicmedia.org
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Business thrives in giving industrial products new life

Although he’s run Repurposed Materials for 16 years, Damon Carson can still vividly recall the “Reese’s moment” that led to

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Oct 15 • 9:13 AM EDT • Business • resource-recycling.com
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Xreal's New Flagship One Pro+ AR Glasses Offer Better Brightness And Increased Comfort

There's still no camera here, so they won't be confused for pervert specs.

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Oct 15 • 9:00 AM EDT • Technology • engadget.com
Kaley Cuoco reveals new baby with Tom Pelphrey, shares daughter's name

Kaley Cuoco's family has become a party of four.

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Oct 15 • 8:49 AM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
As prior auth becomes an AI ‘arms race,’ Otter Health raises $8M for a different approach

Prior authorization has long been a source of friction between payers and providers, and now, with algorithmic tools for claims reviews and LLMs for appeals, it's evolved into an AI "arms race" as | The company built an AI-powered real-time clinical quality platform to better manage healthcare utilization by influencing care decisions rather than requiring clinicians to get permission for them.

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Oct 15 • 8:30 AM EDT • Health • fiercehealthcare.com
The Politics of Heat, Homes, and Lobster Boats.

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—The candidates’ forum focusing on House District 15 and incumbent Holly Eaton and Clifford Noyes last week spent a lot of time on the candidates’ thought of heating, communication with constituents, property taxes, education costs, and other issues. It also was a time for the community to ask their own questions and see two candidates up close and personal at the Southwest Harbor Fire Department firehouse. Jim Vallette organized the hour-long event, which was moderated by Carrie Jones of the Bar Harbor Story. Ken Rozsahegyi provided technical support for the congenial event. House District 15 serves Brooklin, Deer Isle, Eagle Island Township, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, Marshall Island, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Swan's Island, Tremont, and Vinalhaven. Jones advised as she began the question and answer part of the event, ”Treat everyone here like they are going to be the ones who might give you a ride in a rainstorm, pull your pet out of a burning building, or be the one grading your kids’ papers at school, okay?” She continued. “That’s it. Tonight isn’t meant to be a gotcha debate. The goal is to give people in the district a chance to get to know both candidates, hear what they care about, and understand what they’d actually try to accomplish in Augusta.” The questions and discussion throughout were kind. Eaton currently serves in the position. She’s a Democrat from Deer Isle, raised in a fishing family and has worked in nonprofits and volunteered for her school board. Noyes is unenrolled (politically) and from Southwest Harbor and currently a school board member, self employed as a mason. He focused on fiscal issues throughout the forum. Eventually, at Jones’ prompting, the candidates played “Rock, Paper, Scissors” for who would go first for their closing statements. Noyes used the opportunity to urge others to head to the ballot. “Whether you vote for me or Holly, it’s important that people vote,” Noyes said. He hoped the voter turnout in the district would be over 35 percent because that would mean people were truly engaged. Eaton stressed that she’s a Democrat, but in Augusta, her role isn’t about party. “I am a Democrat, but when I go to Augusta, I am there to represent the people of District 15. I want people to feel as though I’m accessible, that I’m responsive, and that I show up for the district,” Eaton said. Being there for others was vital, she explained. “When something comes before me in Augusta, I try to look at it through the lens of the people and the communities that I represent. How will this affect the people who live here? Does it make it easier or harder to raise a family here, to operate a small business, to work on the water, to afford a home, to keep our schools open, or provide the essential services our communities depend on?” Eaton said. Noyes spoke about fiscal responsibility and about the state being more responsive to communities and the ideas that come from them. “I feel that we desperately need to restore some fiscal sanity, a little bit. So when the legislature meets again,” Noyes said, “it could be critical for Maine residents that we don’t keep digging this hole that we’re in financially and keep raising our taxes so the struggling families struggle even more.” The two answered a series of questions from Jones, then answered questions from the audience and participants via Zoom. Jones asked what they heard the most from people about what was making their lives hard and what can the legislature in Augusta do it about those issues. Both spoke to concerns about heating oil costs. Noyes spoke to the three H’s: health, home, and heat. Eaton and Noyes spoke to the burdens of families with lower incomes, with Eaton mentioning LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). They both were in favor of free community college and trade programs. They both supported the working waterfront. Both said that data centers—such as the one proposed in Eastport, which is out of the district—should be a local decision, but neither were in favor of it. The working waterfront was supported by both. Eaton’s served on the Maine Marine Resource Committee in the legislature. She advocated a diversity of fishing resources and less of a reliance on lobstering. Shrimp, she hoped, would make a comeback. Noyes worried about out-of-state pressure on the lobstering industry, also spoke of shrimp harvesting timings, and said he supported the lobstering industry. QUICK NOTE Carrie Jones is, obviously, the co-founder of the Bar Harbor Story, which made us have a bit of a hard time putting out this story and thinking it through and how to present it. We ended up with this article. The debate in its entirety is below, many thanks to Ken and Jim for making it publicly available. UPCOMING AND PAST EVENTS The following events are or were organized by the League of Women Voters Downeast. DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT 13 Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM Candidate Forum: House District 13 125 State St , Ellsworth Featuring candidates Michael Cunningham (D) and Russell White (R), moderated by Cyndi Wood, managing editor of the Ellsworth American. DEMOCRACY FORUM Friday, Oct 16, 2026 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Democracy Forum — Election 2026: What’s on Your Ballot RECENT PRESS RELEASES AND BRIEFS To see all the press releases, click here. To see our news, click here. For the full archive, click here. All of these are on our dedicated website. [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ Feeling Stressed? Kids’ Corner Invites Parents, Educators, and Caregivers to Rediscover the Joy with National Speaker Raelene Ostberg Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ Mainely Meat’s Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness is October 18! Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ Conners Emerson School Announces Public Surplus Property Sale Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ Planting the Writer’s Garden 12:15 AM ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) [ Artist Maria de los Angeles explores migration and belonging in COA public lecture 12:19 AM ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment

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Oct 15 • 8:18 AM EDT • Politics • barharborstory.substack.com
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Americans who go to church and trust science are also more likely to believe in ghosts and curses, new research shows

Belief in science and belief in magic can coexist.

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Oct 15 • 8:15 AM EDT • Science • theconversation.com
The 2026 cold and flu season is approaching, health officials say

Health officials in Ohio are encouraging residents to get their flu shots before Halloween as cases begin to rise, with updated vaccines available to address new strains.

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Oct 15 • 8:09 AM EDT • Health • wlwt.com
Computational Models as Liminal Models in Neuroscience, a Cognitive Science Speaker Series Presentation | Events

Speaker: Danielle Williams, Ph.D. Title: Computational Models as Liminal Models in Neuroscience Short Bio: Danielle is a philosopher of mind and science whose research examines the role of computation in our theories and explanations of the mind and brain. Her work brings together philosophy of mind, cognitive science, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, with particular interests in computational theories of mind, computational modeling, and the relationship between different explanatory and modeling strategies in the mind sciences. She also investigates philosophical questions raised by contemporary AI, including the nature of opacity in computational models and its implications for explanation in cognitive science. Alongside this work, she is a historian of cognitive science and AI, examining how the development of computer technology has shaped our conceptions and models of the mind and brain. Abstract: Scientists rely on various types of models to make sense of their phenomena of interest. This has led philosophers to take up a range of semantic, ontological, and epistemological questions about how models represent, what kinds of things models are, what we learn from models, and how they explain. One type of model that has been of particular interest to philosophers is the computational model. Computational models are commonplace in the mind sciences in general and neuroscience in particular, with many asking how computational modeling can help us understand the nervous system and its contribution to cognition and behavior. These questions are particularly pressing in neuroscience, as computational models have become a dominant framework for making sense of cognition. Thus, old questions about model-based science have re-emerged within the context of neuroscience, with many philosophers looking to established frameworks to understand how computational models represent, explain, and contribute to theory development in neuroscience. These established frameworks, however, characterize computational models as a homogeneous type which cannot capture actual modeling practices in neuroscience. In this talk, I argue that computational models in neuroscience are best typed as a kind of liminal model, a type I introduce to capture how the status of a computational model is determined by the epistemic context in which it is deployed. Indeed, the category to which a computational model belongs shifts according to the role it plays within a given context. ASL-English interpreters have been requested. Light refreshments will be provided.

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Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • rit.edu
New Report Summarizes Alaska Aquaculture Vision - NCCOS - National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

NOAA has released the Gulf of Alaska Aquaculture Atlas Rollout and Webtool Planning Workshop Series Report, summarizing input gathered during a series of public engagement workshops held in Anchorage, Juneau, and Kodiak, Alaska in spring 2026. NOAA Fisheries hosted the workshops in partnership with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). Workshop participants included ... Read more

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Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • coastalscience.noaa.gov
Kurtis Carsch Selected as a 2026 Packard Fellow

The fellowship will fund research on materials with applications in energy, medicine and drug discovery.

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Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • cns.utexas.edu
Companies pledge free software and computing for AI in science

The European Commission has announced that a group of companies and foundations will offer free services, such as software or access to supercomputers, to European scientists using AI in their research.Unveiled on October 15 at a conference in Dublin, the initiative is the latest step by the Commission to try to help researchers use the technology. Scientists have used forms of AI, such as machine learning, for decades. But advances in deep learning in the past decade, and the wider interest in large language models since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, have spurred governments to invest in new AI tools that could help the scientific process.In July, the US announced it is spending $5 billion on the Genesis Mission, which it describes as a “national effort to harness AI for science,” funding 278 projects across areas such as autonomous labs or new AI tools in astronomy. The Commission has also identified AI in science as a priority, but the €107 million it pledged from Horizon Europe in 2025 does not come close to US spending levels. That said, the vast majority of public research spending in the EU comes from national funds. Today’s announcement at the European AI in Science Summit doesn’t commit any new public money. Instead, it launches the AI in Science Enablers Initiative, a set of voluntary contributions from companies and foundations. The idea is that the companies also benefit by getting access to scientific ecosystems, and feedback on how their tools work. Google, for example, has put up €3 million of cloud computing credits to European researchers. The Novo Nordisk Foundation intends to make its supercomputer, Gefion, available to European researchers, according to the Commission statement. The chipmaker Nvidia said it would provide access to tools, compute, training and collaborative projects.The publisher Elsevier also offered complementary licenses to some of its AI tools, plus AI training for PhD, postdoctoral and master’s students. The French AI firm Mistral will provide the European research community with access to its open-weight models, Vibe seats and application programming interface credits, according to the Commission’s statement. Vibe is one of the firm’s chatbot models. The idea is that more firms and foundations will come on board in the future as the initiative grows.

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Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Is the EU research budget actually increasing?

Is a Horizon Europe budget of €158 billion a 10% cut or a significant increase to the EU’s support for research and innovation? What would seem like a question of fact has divided opinion in Brussels since the Irish presidency of the EU Council presented its negotiation box on October 10. The answer depends on factors such as how you adjust for inflation, whether you account for increases in overall EU wealth and if you care about absolute or proportional figures. The €158 billion budget in current prices, proposed by the Irish presidency of the EU Council, was quickly criticised by university lobbies and rejected by the high-level expert group led by former Portuguese science minister Manuel Heitor. It was also decried by the four pro-European political groups in the European Parliament. “How can Europe close its competitiveness gap while cutting the European Competitiveness Fund by 13% and Horizon Europe by nearly 10%?” asked a joint statement by the European People’s Party (EPP), Renew Europe, the Socialists and Democrats and the Greens/European Free Alliance. Together, these parties hold 63% of seats in the Parliament.In stark contrast, Irish foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee said that the proposal “significantly increases investment in competitiveness, research and innovation,” Meanwhile, a presidency press release said that, compared to the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the proposal would “double the volume of competitiveness related programmes.” So, who is right? That depends on how you make the calculation.Compared to the Commission figure or the previous budget?The first thing to notice is the difference in baselines. When the MEPs say the Irish presidency will cut Horizon Europe by “nearly 10%” they are using the European Commission proposal for the MFF from July 2025, which allocated €175 billion in current prices to Horizon Europe. However, when the Irish foreign affairs minister said the research and competitiveness budget is increasing significantly, she is comparing it to the 2021-27 MFF, which had a Horizon Europe budget of €84.9 billion in 2018 prices.Her point holds when accounting for inflation. Applying a 2% annual inflation rate, the calculation method used by the Commission, the 2021-27 Horizon Europe would have a budget of €97.5 billion in 2025 prices. In comparison, the Irish presidency’s €158 billion figure in current prices translates to €140 billion in 2025 prices. Does the ECF count?But there is more to the dispute. In its statements, the Irish presidency lumped the research budget in with the overall budget for competitiveness. The Parliament statement, however, kept the two separate. This matters because the next MFF includes plans to add a new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) to fund programmes meant to boost the continent's competitiveness. The Irish negotiating box allocated €245 billion in current prices to this programme.When this is added to the €158 billion for Horizon Europe, as well as programmes such as the EU education programme Erasmus+, the total for “competitiveness, prosperity and security” in the Irish proposal becomes €514 billion in current prices. But it is still uncertain how big a share of this competitiveness budget would go to research. The Commission proposal of July 2025 for the MFF included clear links between the ECF and Horizon Europe, indicating some ECF money will go to research. At the same time, the structure of the ECF is still being negotiated, and a substantial part of its budget is expected to support non-research activities such as defence manufacturing, decarbonisation and digital infrastructure. Related articlesCouncil floats 9.6% budget cut to next Horizon EuropeResearch community to appeal to national governments over planned EU budget cutEU own resources ‘essential’ for future research budget, says leading MEPSo, it is by looking at competitiveness rather than research, or combining the two, that the Irish presidency can claim that its proposed budget will significantly increase investment in competitiveness, research and innovation.According to the Irish presidency proposal, Horizon Europe and other competitiveness-related programmes in the current multiannual budget received €221 billion in current prices. However, since this money is being distributed from 2021 to 2027, it is not directly comparable to the €514 billion in current prices which will be distributed from 2028 to 2034.Research as a proportion of the MFFBut the relative rise in competitiveness-related programmes points to another important distinction: whether you look at the research budget in absolute terms or as a share of the overall MFF. Here, too, the size of the research budget has risen, although only slightly. In the 2021-27 MFF, Horizon Europe accounted for 7% of the total budget. In the Irish presidency’s proposal, it amounts to 8.7%. The share for the total competitiveness envelope went from 17.7% in the current MFF to 28.1% in the Irish presidency proposal.This proportional share may seem irrelevant to universities looking for research funding, but it is becoming significant as budget negotiations between the Parliament, the Commission and the Council begin. On October 2, a group of 17 southern and eastern European countries sent out a statement calling for the EU agriculture and cohesion budgets to be protected. The Parliament’s co-rapporteur on the budget, Siegfried Mureșan of the EPP, has also said that the research envelope is likely to be cut disproportionately as the budget is slimmed down during negotiations.

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Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Want to Lower Blood Pressure? A Cardiologist Recommends This 1 Vegetable

In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a cardiologist reveals which vegetable helps the body produce a “potent vasodilator,” which opens blood vessels and promotes blood flow.

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Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • today.com
Kenya reports second Ebola case

Kenya reports a second Ebola case. Meanwhile, the situation in Congo is still quite dire. Authorities have confirmed more than 4,000 deaths and 9,000 cases as officials have struggled to contain one the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.

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Oct 15 • 7:55 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
What's the most popular pro sports team in your state? See the map

Google Trends reveals the top pro sports teams in all 50 states. Explore the winners, plus the second- and third-ranked NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL teams.

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Oct 15 • 7:25 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
After booting 760K off ACA health plans, the Trump administration adds some people back

The Trump administration provided few details about its process for canceling hundreds of thousands of Affordable Care Act enrollments — even as the next stage of the anti-fraud effort is underway.

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Oct 15 • 7:06 AM EDT • Health • npr.org
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Mikel Merino Takes Zubimendi Injury Blame and Reveals Details

Mikel Merino has revealed his challenge was behind the ankle problem that ruled Martin Zubimendi out of Arsenal’s win over Lille, but insists his teammate will be back soon.

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Oct 15 • 7:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
As Florida Confronts Hundreds of Local Dengue Cases, Tampa Health Organizations Respond

Florida health officials have reported almost 300 locally acquired dengue cases as of Oct. 3 in what appears to be the largest outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in the continental United State…

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Oct 15 • 6:33 AM EDT • Health • directrelief.org
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‘The money, not the message.’ Idaho debates how to manage free speech in elections

In the thick of election season, Idaho’s secretary of state held a Free Speech Summit for state officials and lawmakers.

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Oct 15 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • idahostatesman.com
Why health systems are putting big bucks behind family caregivers

CARE Act laws require hospitals to provide training and information to family members caring for patients at home.

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Oct 15 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • modernhealthcare.com
Measles is popping up in more Wisconsin counties. Health experts say it may get worse.

Officials are still investigating how the new infections started. But Wisconsin has already seen similar clusters of cases this year.

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Oct 15 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • wpr.org
I switched from Android to the iPhone 18 Pro Max for 3 weeks

I tested over 50 Android phones this year. I used the iPhone 18 Pro Max to see how it differs from Android rivals — and what it does better.

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Oct 15 • 5:30 AM EDT • Technology • androidauthority.com
Boo in the Zoo, SC State Fair, Swamp Rabbits headline SC weekend fun

Lots of fun across the state leading with the SC State Fair, festivals, outdoor recreation and family friendly events this weekend.

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Oct 15 • 5:07 AM EDT • Entertainment • greenvilleonline.com
Small Business Financing Is A Stubborn Challenge. Can AI Solve It?

AI is already reshaping community lending. Here are six ways it may ease entrepreneurs' money hunt and help them use credit more strategically.

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Oct 15 • 5:00 AM EDT • Business • forbes.com
7 Takeaways From an Investigation Into Financial Aid at Texas Hospitals

Hospitals can prevent medical debt by preemptively wiping out a patient’s bill. But a Tradeoffs analysis finds that few nonprofit facilities in Texas use this tool to the maximum benefit of patients.

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Oct 15 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • kffhealthnews.org
Hasan Piker isn't worried about being a political boogeyman this midterms season

President Donald Trump recently called Hasan Piker a “terrible liability” and a “communist.”The California-based streamer — who describes himself as a socialist — has become the GOP’s political bogeyman ahead of the midterm elections. Piker argues those attacks will backfire, but also says he has played a role in being portrayed as a 'figurehead of the insurgent left.'“The way that I'm portrayed in the media is an America-hating communist Islamist fundamentalist who wants to secretly do jihad, and then also, at the same time, very woke and gay, so there's this weird inconsistency in their messaging,” Piker says. “Who I am is very simple. I'm a socialist. I'm an anti-imperialist. I want what's best for Americans, and I want what's best for everyone from all around the world.”In this episode from NPR’s Newsmakers, Piker sits down with host Leila Fadel and argues Republicans are using him to distract from policies that made life less affordable. He also addresses his seven Twitch bans, defends his rhetoric against right-wing reactionaries, and reflects on the crisis of loneliness among young men — and the limits of his influence.“At the end of the day, I'm a Twitch streamer,” Piker says. “I hold no political office. I have no real political power. So getting people to be upset at a Twitch streamer and their affiliation as a, if you want to call it a surrogate, in the primary is going to be very difficult.”Newsmakers is where you'll find NPR's biggest interviews. We post new episodes as soon as they're available -- any day of the week. Follow or subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you watch or listen to podcasts to get new episodes as soon as possible. You can also find Newsmakers on the NPR app. Newsmakers relies on supporters who value independent journalism and a free press. Join NPR+ today to support our work and get perks from the podcasts you trust. Go to plus.npr.org.

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Oct 15 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • npr.org
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Antonio Conte 'Makes Decision' On Accepting Man Utd Manager Job

As chaos engulfs Old Trafford following Champions League heartbreak and internal friction, Antonio Conte signals his readiness to return to England and restore the fallen giants.

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Oct 15 • 4:43 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
What Dolly Parton’s estate fight reveals about family business succession

Parton, the legendary American singer, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, left an estate estimated at $450 million.

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Oct 15 • 4:30 AM EDT • Business • fastcompany.com
Duke Health, CaroMont join forces in bid for two Charlotte hospitals

Duke Health and CaroMont Health aim to build two new hospitals in Mecklenburg County. It's the latest move in a wave of hospital expansion.

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Oct 15 • 4:30 AM EDT • Health • northcarolinahealthnews.org
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Four teams remain in Indiana girls flag football state title hunt. State finals schedule

Here is the schedule for the 2026 Indiana high school girls flag football state finals in Westfield.

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Oct 15 • 4:20 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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July 2026 Healthcare Data Breach Report

In July 2026, 77 healthcare data breaches affecting 500 or more individuals were reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office In July 2026, 77 healthcare data breaches affecting 500 or more individuals were reported to the HHS Office for Civil Rights, involving the protected health information of more than 33 million individuals. That’s a 10% month-over-month increase in data breaches and a 642% increase in affected individuals.

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Oct 15 • 4:18 AM EDT • Health • hipaajournal.com
Heart doctor: Healthy school meals are heart health policy

Right now, far too many Virginia children lack consistent access to the food they need to grow, learn and thrive. The 2026 Virginia Hunger Study found that one in two (51%) Virginia households with…

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Oct 15 • 4:00 AM EDT • Health • cardinalnews.org
GTA 6 Leaker Cyberleek Says Their Reveals Stop Here, for Now

Cyberleek shared another announcement.

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Oct 15 • 3:18 AM EDT • Technology • 80.lv
Public Health professionals find connection through community theater

LANDSTUHL, Germany — Three Public Health Command Europe employees recently participated in “The Stinky Cheese Man”, a Kaiserslautern Military Community...

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Oct 15 • 3:06 AM EDT • Health • army.mil
How did political campaigns get so expensive?

The 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching, and it’s gearing up to be the most expensive election in American history. So how did we get here, where every election feels more expensive than the last? Today on the show, we’re exploring what’s causing the flood of money into our politics. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.Your Next Listen –Bad economics, smart politics –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR AppConnect with The Indicator from Planet Money–The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. –Instagram, TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch, and other merch at the NPR Shop!Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

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Oct 15 • 3:00 AM EDT • Politics • npr.org
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Medical school professor wins women faculty award for public health work

Marcella Nunez-Smith, the School of Medicine’s inaugural associate dean for Health Equity Research, was recognized by the Yale Women Faculty Forum for her work in public health equity at a Wednesday event attended by various senior administrators.

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Oct 15 • 2:09 AM EDT • Health • yaledailynews.com
Ceuta and the Politics of Not Naming

The Ceuta gray-zone crisis reveals how migration pressure, political ambiguity, and delayed attribution shaped Spain’s response to Morocco.

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Oct 15 • 2:00 AM EDT • Politics • smallwarsjournal.com
Thailand's bet on business events to boost tourism

Thailand is turning to MICE tourism - meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions - to revive its tourism industry amid declining visitor arrivals, safety concerns and a stronger currency. With Bangkok rising in global rankings, the country is betting on international business events to attract more visitors and boost economic growth. CNBC's JP Ong takes you through the streets of Bangkok.

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Oct 15 • 1:03 AM EDT • Business • cnbc.com
Gibraltar to Sell Infrastructure Business to Saint-Gobain for $208 Million

Gibraltar Industries (ROCK) has agreed to sell its Infrastructure business, D.S. Brown, to Saint-Gobain for $208 million in cash. The price is subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals.Gibraltar expects the transaction to be highly tax efficient and plans to use the proceeds to accelerate debt reduction as it focuses its portfolio on building products and structures end-markets. Management will update its 2026 outlook for the sale alongside its third-quarter 2026 report; that report’s timing will be announced separately.

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Oct 15 • 1:00 AM EDT • Business • stocktitan.net
Cincinnati business leaders asked CPS to 'pause' levy this year

Letters to Cincinnati Public Schools officials from business leaders illuminate why the chamber did not endorse the district's levy.

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Oct 15 • 12:30 AM EDT • Business • cincinnati.com
Exclusive: US considering using ‘mother of all bombs’ against Iran, sources say

The US military has developed new strike plans that include potentially using the so-called “mother of all bombs” to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites should President Donald Trump give the order to resume combat operations either before or after the midterm elections, according to multiple US officials familiar with the matter.

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Oct 15 • 12:01 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Historical records from Preston County highlight notable figures in politics, science, arts and athletics

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — Historical public records, municipal documents and biographical archives detail the lives of prominent individuals who were born in or established residence within Preston County, West Virginia.

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Oct 15 • 12:00 AM EDT • Science • wvnews.com
Historical records from Preston County highlight notable figures in politics, science, arts and athletics

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — Historical public records, municipal documents and biographical archives detail the lives of prominent individuals who were born in or established residence within Preston County, West Virginia.

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Oct 15 • 12:00 AM EDT • Politics • wvnews.com
South Korea's stock rout reveals a double threat to the AI boom

Doubts about AI profits and growing reliance on outside funding are prompting investors to rethink how much semiconductor stocks are worth.

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Oct 14 • 11:35 PM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Courtney Ogden 'wanted business,' and Michigan fit the bill

At 6-foot-1-inch, Courtney Ogden is not only a stifling presence on defense, but she is also a reliable shooter with an extensive resume.

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Oct 14 • 11:31 PM EDT • Business • michigandaily.com
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Lakers Dalton Knecht Gets Unexpected Lifeline With New Trade Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to make Dalton Knecht their final roster cut, but he also remains a top trade candidate, per new rumors. The post Lakers Dalton Knecht Gets Unexpected Lifeline With New Trade Rumors appeared first on HEAVY.

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Oct 14 • 11:17 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Endeavor Health, Rush University System announce plans to merge

Endeavor Health and Rush University System for Health announced plans to merge into a singular integrated academic health system in a Wednesday news release. The merger will create a unified network of 12 hospitals and more than 400 care sites across northern Illinois and northwest Indiana that will employ more than 46,000 people and serve...

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Oct 14 • 9:11 PM EDT • Health • dailynorthwestern.com
Bucs' Veteran Credits Bowles for Keeping Things Together

Amid a rocky start and rampant outside noise, Alex Anzalone reveals how Todd Bowles reshaped the locker room mindset to spark a season-saving upset over the Cowboys.

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Oct 14 • 9:00 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Katie Zacharia Is Trump’s New Press Secretary. But Is She a Lawyer?

Katie Zacharia told The New York Times that the confusion over her legal credentials was the result of one big misunderstanding.

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Oct 14 • 8:45 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Peloton's Matt Wilpers teams up with QuickBooks to help small-business owners

QuickBooks gives business owners a clearer picture of their finances, while Wilpers' approach focuses on creating consistent habits around cash flow, financial goals, and regular check-ins.

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Oct 14 • 8:32 PM EDT • Business • wmar2news.com
Travis Kelce reveals terrifying Steelers Combine meeting detail

Mike Tomlin explained how the Pittsburgh Steelers used Hall of Famer Mean Joe Greene during draft combine meetings to test incoming prospects.

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Oct 14 • 8:25 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
☹️ Negative (-100%)
Carson Beck will not change role for Arizona Cardinals yet

Find out what Mike LaFleur said about rookie QB Carson Beck's role in Week 6.

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Oct 14 • 8:22 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Trick-or-treating, spooky science and haunted houses arrive at Miami Children’s Museum for Halloween - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

Trick or treating in a museum can be full of surprises because mixing up spooky science with costumes equals a bash to remember. Experimenting withRead More

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Oct 14 • 8:03 PM EDT • Science • wsvn.com
Women in Business Quarterly Mixer

The holidays can be a season of celebration-but they can also bring added stress, financial pressure, and a never-ending to-do list. Join the Culver City Chamber of Commerce for Thrive Through the Holidays: Women in Business Mixer, on Wednesday, November 4 at an evening designed to help you enter the holiday season feeling connected, prepared, and...

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Oct 14 • 8:00 PM EDT • Business • culvercityobserver.com
San Diego Rules Committee advances campaign to increase transparency in local politics

The San Diego City Council's Rules Committee Wednesday advanced proposals intended to increase transparency in local politics.

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Oct 14 • 7:49 PM EDT • Politics • nbcsandiego.com
Shawn Horcoff Reveals Surprising Detail About Simon Edvinsson Contract Talks

Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff reveals new details about Simon Edvinsson contract negotiations, including direct conversations and Detroit's flexibility.

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Oct 14 • 7:46 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Bay Area Science Festival set for Saturday; free event to feature games, robots, animals and experiments

13th annual gathering at UC San Francisco Mission Bay Campus showcases innovation and research, with a focus on kids

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Oct 14 • 7:42 PM EDT • Science • mercurynews.com
Anthropic reveals $16.8B revenue amid IPO preparations

Anthropic reports $16.8B Q3 revenue at an investor meeting, signaling strong growth ahead of IPO.

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Oct 14 • 7:38 PM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
New Orleans officials urge residents to advocate for change at Urban League conference

New Orleans leaders, including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and Mayor Helena Moreno, spoke at the event

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Oct 14 • 7:07 PM EDT • Politics • nola.com
Idaho lawmakers tee up bill to reform prior authorization, and more health insurance issues

A panel of Idaho lawmakers that studied issues in the health insurance market formalized plans to draft legislation on a range of issues.

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Oct 14 • 7:04 PM EDT • Health • idahocapitalsun.com
Stanford Scientists Find New Way to Revive Bleached Coral

Bleached corals have a remarkable ability to recover, when put in contact with a healthy clone and beneficial algae, Bay Area researchers announced in a study published Monday.

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Oct 14 • 6:55 PM EDT • Science • kqed.org
Election officials warn of confusing information in texts sent to voters
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Oct 14 • 6:54 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Arizona Cardinals sign TE Shawn Bowman to active roster

The Cardinals filled the vacancy on their roster from putting Isaiah Adams on injured reserve.

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Oct 14 • 6:39 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Widespread power outage hits Central City, prompting several business closures

A widespread power outage in Central City has forced multiple local businesses to close their doors for the day.

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Oct 14 • 6:18 PM EDT • Business • ksnblocal4.com
SD rules committee advances campaign finance, `Dark Money' reform packages

The two separate proposals, the Ending Perpetual Fundraising Ordinance and Exposing Dark Money and Banning Shadow Campaigns, follow the previously advanced Follow the Money Ordinance, which the Rules Committee advanced in August.

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Oct 14 • 6:14 PM EDT • Politics • kpbs.org
Patrick Mahomes Endorses Cyrus Allen as Rashee Rice Misses Practice

The Kansas City Chiefs could be thin at wide receiver during their Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Tyquan Thornton sustained a dislocated ankle in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders and is out indefinitely, and potentially for the remainder of the season. Rashee Rice was also injured in that game, pulling […] The post Patrick Mahomes Endorses Cyrus Allen as Rashee Rice Misses Practice appeared first on HEAVY.

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Oct 14 • 6:04 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Political ad rates case frozen through midterms

The Supreme Court in an unsigned decision Wednesday sided with Republicans in a dispute over expanding discounted television advertising rates beyond political candidates ahead of the midterms. The unsigned order from a majority of the court paused a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals from the 4th Circuit that could have allowed the courts […]

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Oct 14 • 5:58 PM EDT • Politics • rollcall.com
Warriors' Kristaps Porziņģis breaks silence on mysterious health issues, remains out indefinitely

Porziņģis also tried to quiet some of the online rumors that have circulated about his absence from the court

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Oct 14 • 5:58 PM EDT • Health • cbssports.com
Kentucky health officials urge vaccination amid worst measles outbreak in years

Kentucky health officials are tracking 157 confirmed measles cases statewide, including 56 in Laurel County, and urging vaccination to slow the outbreak.

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Oct 14 • 5:55 PM EDT • Health • spectrumnews1.com
State Health Plan labels Atrium Health "out of network"

The battle between the N.C. State Health Plan and Atrium Health escalated Wednesday when the plan said the largest N.C. system's hospitals and clinics in the Charlotte and Triad would be deemed out of network for 2027.

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Oct 14 • 5:49 PM EDT • Health • businessnc.com
Quality Dairy to resume selling donuts after clearing health inspection

Quality Dairy will resume selling donuts and rolls in its stores on Thursday, Oct. 15 after receiving approval from state health officials.

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Oct 14 • 5:46 PM EDT • Health • lansingstatejournal.com
E! AND USA SPORTS ANNOUNCE LIVE FROM THE ORANGE CARPET: WNBA FINALS HOSTED BY LILLY SINGH

A global media and technology company.

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Oct 14 • 5:43 PM EDT • Sports • versantmedia.com
😐 Neutral (14%)
Gainesville businesses propose opening new courthouse parking garage during off-hours

Business owners want Alachua County to open the garage on nights and weekends

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Oct 14 • 5:36 PM EDT • Business • wcjb.com
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Big Top Xtreme Opens in Pine Bluff Bringing Family Entertainment and New Attractions After Six Years of Development

Big Top Xtreme officially celebrated its grand opening in Pine Bluff on Wednesday, October 14th, marking the completion of a six-year effort to transform a former property into a family entertainment destination featuring go-karts, miniature golf, paintball, arcade games and Big Banjo Pizza. City officials, […]

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Oct 14 • 5:26 PM EDT • Entertainment • deltaplexnews.com
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DementedFX seeks investigation after city officials entered facility without permission

A well-known local attraction is responding to Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia’s public response to the city’s decision to stop operations of the haunt’s Cube experience.

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Oct 14 • 5:24 PM EDT • Business • wwlp.com
Scientists May Have Discovered One Way Microplastics Could Harm the Body

Plastic is usually inert, but in a new lab study, microplastics in water spontaneously produced damaging free radicals. What does that mean for the human body?

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Oct 14 • 5:21 PM EDT • Science • health.yahoo.com
RFK Jr pushes back on reports of federal health coverage cuts

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disputes reports that the administration is cutting people from Medicare, Medicaid or Obamacare, saying it is targeting duplicate enrollments and records for deceased individuals.

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Oct 14 • 5:12 PM EDT • Health • foxnews.com
State Health Plan moves some Atrium sites out of network after court setback

Atrium hospitals already designated as “access” level facilities under a September agreement, largely rural ones, would be exempt.

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Oct 14 • 5:09 PM EDT • Health • newsobserver.com
Planetary genealogy: Milky Way worlds belong to 1 of 2 ‘families,’ scientists find

"There is a genetic link between planetary systems and their stars, and that, depending on the star around which they are born, this link also determines their fate."

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Oct 14 • 5:00 PM EDT • Science • space.com
Champlain Valley Exposition brought animals, entertainment and crowds together in 2002

The 2002 Champlain Valley Exposition featured animals, agricultural exhibits, entertainment and an estimated 300,000 visitors

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Oct 14 • 4:45 PM EDT • Entertainment • wcvb.com
International business is influenced by local political climate, study finds

A new study co-authored by Tang Yinuo, a tenured associate professor at Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS), reveals that conservative communities in the U.S. are more likely to resist mergers ...

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Oct 14 • 4:40 PM EDT • Business • phys.org
International business is influenced by local political climate, study finds

A new study co-authored by Tang Yinuo, a tenured associate professor at Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS), reveals that conservative communities in the U.S. are more likely to resist mergers ...

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Oct 14 • 4:40 PM EDT • Politics • phys.org
Julia Louis-Dreyfus reveals Ina Garten helped her find a new home in NYC after Palisades Fire

Her new place has a special connection to her late father Gérard Louis-Dreyfus.

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Oct 14 • 4:32 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions

Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”

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Oct 14 • 4:31 PM EDT • Technology • gamefile.news
LMH Health receives Level IV Trauma Center designation

LMH Health has been designated a Level IV Trauma Center by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), recognizing the organization’s trauma program and strengthening access to emergency care for patients across the region. The achievement follows a comprehensive review process conducted every three years to ensure hospitals meet standards established by the American […]

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Oct 14 • 4:30 PM EDT • Health • lmh.org
DNA from centuries-old skeletons buried in Montreal reveals no genetic mixing between Indigenous people and French colonists

A study of DNA from early colonial-era skeletons in a Montreal cemetery has revealed that none of them had any Indigenous ancestry.

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Oct 14 • 3:46 PM EDT • Science • livescience.com
Exclusive: Judge limited Justice Department access to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s records in sprawling immigration fraud probe

The Trump administration pushed for an unusually aggressive search of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s house in recent days in an immigration fraud probe that targets the congresswoman, possible false statements made on government documents, and a potential conspiracy, according to multiple people familiar with the investigation.

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Oct 14 • 3:39 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Netflix to lay off roughly 1,000 employees

Despite the cuts, the company expects to meet investor expectations for its full-year financials.

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Oct 14 • 2:58 PM EDT • Entertainment • axios.com
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Cam Heyward reveals legendary Vince Williams trash-talk vs Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers DT Cameron Heyward recalled former linebacker Vince Williams' legendary trash talk before facing the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Oct 14 • 2:54 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
White House economic chief reveals why Americans aren't feeling optimistic about economy

White House advisor Kevin Hassett says rising energy costs contributed to disappointing inflation data, while bank executives report that consumers continue to spend.

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Oct 14 • 2:48 PM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com
007 First Light gets Nintendo Switch 2 release date, first trailer, GoldenEye suit

After months of wondering about 007 First Light on Nintendo Switch 2, IO Interactive just announced a March 18, 2027 release date and dropped a specific trailer for the console. Additionally, a new GoldenEye has been revealed, which is a callback to GoldenEye 007 on the N64. This will be made available as a pre-order bonus. Today’s trailer also offers...

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Oct 14 • 2:43 PM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com
YouTube Music launches new labels as AI-generated music floods streaming platforms

The label will appear on the player page and include songs entirely generated by AI or partially, such as involved in composition and vocals.

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Oct 14 • 2:23 PM EDT • Technology • techcrunch.com
The Political Beat Candidate Guide: Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation Board

Incumbent Barbara Bleiweis is running for reelection. She faces Michael Betterly, Makenzie Pearce and Long Tran. Jillian King will also appear on the ballot, but her campaign has been suspended.

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Oct 14 • 2:23 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Bleached Coral Rebounded After Touching Healthy Coral, Study Finds

After sick corals were placed in direct contact with healthy ones of the same genetic make-up, they recovered at “incredible” speed, scientists found.

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Oct 14 • 2:00 PM EDT • Science • nytimes.com
Early voting begins Monday

MONROE COUNTY — Registered Monroe County voters can cast ballots from Monday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 31, during early voting for the November general election, county elections officials said.

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Oct 14 • 2:00 PM EDT • Politics • keysnews.com
Liaison team calls for broader Vermont healthcare reform

After reviewing UVM Health's finances, a watchdog group urged Vermont officials to tackle rising costs across the entire healthcare system.

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Oct 14 • 1:51 PM EDT • Health • vnews.com