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Mariska Hargitay Walked Onto a Set 27 Years Ago and Never Left It; No Actor in American Primetime Drama...
The two Emmys she won this month had nothing to do with Olivia Benson.
Mariska Hargitay Walked Onto a Set 27 Years Ago and Never Left It; No Actor in American Primetime Drama...
The two Emmys she won this month had nothing to do with Olivia Benson.
Cost of living in Bali: How an American retiree spends $1,300 a month
Debbie Welsch, 57, retired from LA to Bali, where she lives on $1,300 a month. Her 10-year home lease cost $45,000 upfront, or $375 a month.
Wembley welcomes 'rabid' college football fans
Wembley hosted its first American college football game on Saturday, but did the event meet expectations?
Cam Schlittler Gets Great Sign For Entering AL MVP Race
Second year pitcher Cam Schlittler is the strong American League Cy Young candidate, but he may have a chance at another award. The New York Yankees ace continues to add to the great body of work and saw his ERA dropping below 2.00 in recent weeks. Schlittler has an outside chance at the AL MVP […] The post Cam Schlittler Gets Great Sign For Entering AL MVP Race appeared first on HEAVY.
Fiesta de Salud brings free health resources, culture, community to Austin
Families gathered at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center on Saturday for Fiesta de Salud, a free community health fair aimed at helping Central Texans start the school year healthy and informed. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/fiesta-de-salud-brings-free-health-resources-culture-community-to-austin/
Republicans find transgender issues a powerful political weapon in midterm campaigning
He's unpopular, his war is going badly and the US economy is strained.Axios reported that Elon Musk's "America PAC" has begun an ad blitz attacking Democrats over their unpopular transgender positions...
Bikini barista shop coming to Sulphur despite pushback
A bikini barista shop is coming soon to Sulphur, but the store’s owners are already facing pushback from the local community. Married couple Kloey and Hunter Machulski expect to begin […]
Three Cuban women, three businesses, one dream: How they’re building their future in Miami
They arrived in Miami by different paths. Now they’re turning what they know and love — pole dancing, tennis and skin care — into businesses and a shot at the American dream.
Yankees Send Aaron Judge Back to the Injured List
The New York Yankees will once again be without their captain and reigning American League MVP, Aaron Judge. The team announced on Saturday morning that the 34-year-old will hit the 10-day injured list (retroactive to September 17th) due to a right calf strain. Judge only appeared in seven games after returning from a fractured rib …
Fiesta de Salud brings free health resources, culture, community to Austin
Families gathered at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center on Saturday for Fiesta de Salud, a free community health fair aimed at helping Central Texans start the school year heal…
Fiesta de Salud brings free health resources, culture, community to Austin
Families gathered at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center on Saturday for Fiesta de Salud, a free community health fair aimed at helping Central Texans start the school year healthy...
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults experienced fatigue during a three-month period, according to a 2024 CDC survey of roughly 27,000 people. T
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults experienced fatigue during a three-month period, according to a 2024 CDC survey of roughly 27,000 people. T
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults experienced fatigue during a three-month period, according to a 2024 CDC survey of roughly 27,000 people. T
Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals
More than seven in 10 U.S. adults experienced fatigue during a three-month period, according to a 2024 CDC survey of roughly 27,000 people. T
Latest impressive defensive performance helps undefeated Cedar Ridge stuff Rouse
After allowing nearly 40 points per game last year, Cedar Ridge's defense has dominated so far this season. The Raiders are 4-0 for the first time since 2017.
China is winning the science race while Washington freezes American innovation
Politically delayed federal research grants freeze medical trials and risk ceding American scientific leadership to China.
The Big Holes in Wearable Heart Rate Variability And Readiness Scores
On September 9th, Apple announced it was revamping its Apple Watch Health Sensing System, rolling out a Readiness score (0 to 10), and increasing the frequency of heart rate variability (HRV) outputs 24-fold. This can be viewed as upping its competition with various other consumer wearable sensors. These “readiness scores” as a composite of multiple metrics, with heart rate variability (HRV) being front and center for most. The majority of Americans are now using wearable sensors, which equates to well over 100 million adults. HRV and Readiness scores are increasingly being marketed as a measurement of autonomic nervous system health, a digital marker for future disease, a clock for biological age, and a holistic metric to promote healthspan and even longevity. (Apple also introduced a new longevity tab and “Health Age”.) None of this has been proven. In this edition of Ground Truths I am going to review what we know about heart rate variability and readiness scores. Heart Rate Variability HRV is the variation in normal heart cycle timing. The variability of the heart rate, the barely perceptible millisecond changes in time between consecutive heart beats (see R-R intervals in the Figure below, left panel), is due to interplay between the sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal nerve) inputs. Distinct from heart rate, individuals with the same heart rate can have very different HRVs. It is a rough reflection of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, inadequate to say whether a person’s ANS function is abnormal. For more than three decades, heart rate variability (HRV) has been measured and several studies have found an association of low HRV and clinical outcomes, particularly a link with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. There have also been less well established links of low HRV to risk of early cognitive impairment, dementia, mental illness, Type 2 diabetes and substance abuse. An important reminder is that HRV is a surrogate marker without any established cause-and-effect relationship. If you increase your HRV, that doesn’t mean it will improve health outcomes. In fact, there is no hard evidence for that. All that work linking to health outcomes was done with electrocardiogram (ECG) derived HRV. Now, in the era of consumer wearables, this is getting assessed differently, by optical pulse (yes, the lights you see) plethysmography (PPG) or what is called pulse rate variability (PRV). They are not the same, as shown below (right panel) and only concordant when the delay between the ECG and pulse is kept constant, which basically means at rest. I should mention there’s also what I will call MPV, a mattress mechanical movement sensor, a derived heart rate variability, that companies like Eight Sleep use, even further away from directly measuring HRV. HRV has not one uniform measurement but many different types of quantification, such as RMSSD, the magnitude of difference between successive R-R intervals of normal sinus beats (N-N) or SDNN, the standard deviation of NN intervals, both in milliseconds. SDNN is one of the so-called frequency domain HRVs (others are LF, HF, LF/HF). Different wearable sensors use different metics; Apple has relied on SDNN and nearly all of the others use RMSSD, which is generally considered the more accurate metric. There’s also the different length of time measured, such as for a matter of minutes, all day, or an overnight’s sleep. Short measurements are especially problematic since they don’t capture enough of respiratory modulation and other factors that influence HRV. Share Ground Truths How well does HRV correlate with PRV? There are very limited studies, especially independently done. One that is commonly cited was conducted by Air Force researchers in only 13 healthy adults assessing Oura ring 3 and 4, Whoop 4.0, and Garmin Fenix 6 and showed a correlation coefficient of 0.88 to 0.97 and a mean absolute percentage error from 6 to 10%. The correlation is not a perfect 1.0, but there’s at least a fairly high level of correlation. HRV is supposed to increase during the night due to takeover of the parasympathetic nervous system, and higher during deep sleep. A recent example of my 1 week, all day “HRV,” and one during sleep is shown below. As you can see, the N of 1 data are inconsistent for the same days from different sensors (Oura, AppleWatch, Fitbit Air, and Eight Sleep) by patterns, absolute numbers, and comparison with prior days and weeks. The largest study in over 8 million Fitbit users (the old version, not Google Fitbit Air, introduced in May 2026) gives you a sense of the effect of age, sex, and the 2 different main HRV (here PRV) metrics, with RMSSD on the left and SDRR (=SDNN) on the right below. That study, from data collected in 2018, is a major outlier, since all the more recent ones are tiny with respect to sample size. Many of the companies have not had independent evaluation of their HRV, such as Eight Sleep, but have published a low standard error on their website. There are some other published studies on the correlation between HRV and PRV, but they are all small and only in healthy adults. A scoping review emphasized the lack of study in underrepresented individuals, including the aged, people of color (which affects the PPG signal), and individuals who are underweight or obese. Add the typical adult age 60 plus with one or more chronic diseases. For example, one study in over 900 adults found poor correlation of HRV and PRV, non-uniformly underestimated across many chronic diseases (cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, respiratory, and others), concluding PRV is “an invalid surrogate for HRV.” A recent systematic review of 43 studies comparing HRV and PRV found reasonable pooled absolute standardized error (HRV as gold standard) but only 10 of the studies provided quantitative synthesis in ideal conditions. Their main conclusion was similarly cautious: “PPG-derived HRV [PRV] should not be regarded as universally interchangeable with ECG-derived HRV across all devices, populations, and recording contexts.” Factors Affecting HRV and PRV That gets me to the long list of factors that affect HRV (and PRV) besides the device, the type of measurement (RMSSD, SDNN or others), the person’s signal, the sensor site, the duration of data capture, if weighting by sleep stage is used, how artifact is processed and corrected. And this list is not complete!: Oura puts out data from their community of users (who input data) on what affects their overnight HRV. The factors currently provided are: no alcohol (increase 8%), melatonin (increase 2%, float tank (increase 2%), wine (decrease 4%), and party (decrease 14%) in overnight HRV. Must be some big parties! Subscribe What is a PRV measurement good for? It has been falsely characterized as an index of “autonomic balance” and a specific indicator of stress. A 2018 review of the studies available for HRV and its relationship to stress, not using any of the current wearables, found that stress can lower HRV. But so can many other factors. The non-specificity of the signal, indexed to the table above, is striking. Evidence from a UK Biobank study of over 46,000 participants with actual HRV looked at genetically predicted HRV, a genetic risk score, that failed to show the expected HRV-mortality link, indicating that _HRV is likely not causa_l, but rather a reflection of person’s physiologic state. A review of consumer wearable HRV data from 5 longitudinal studies showed that nighttime PRV was not associated with perceived stress, and surprisingly higher HRV, in the largest cohort (N=717 participants), was correlated with higher stress. An Oura ring cohort of 525 first-year college students found a link between overnight PRV and perceived stress, but that was also seen with resting heart rate, sleep, and respiratory rate. Several very small studies have examined the relationship of HRV and athletic injuries or guiding training with mixed, and predominantly negative results. HRV biofeedback training with paced breathing had no significant effect on reducing stress or raising HRV, as demonstrated with sham controlled trials. When HRV for multiple days showed a decline in conjunction with body temperature, the Oura ring published data for prediction of Covid. The WHOOP company sponsored an observational study, published in 2026, of 30,000 users for 72 weeks, without a control group, that reported reduced alcohol intake (5.8 % points) by self-report. That doesn’t tell us much, and particularly about the merits of HRV for behavioral change. If you use the same device and conditions as longitudinal trends for multiple (at least 2-3) weeks that may be the one way to get something useful from the measurements. Data for overnight sleep with minimal motion and using RMSSD is the best proxy for real HRV. The reason to look at trends rather than any given night is that it more likely represents something, even though you won’t know with certainty what the “it” is. Keep in mind there are no data, no peer-reviewed evidence, to show that HRV fluctuation in-person has any correlation with health outcomes. Share Readiness Scores These are proprietary scores that integrate different metrics for each of the wearables: no algorithms have been disclosed. They are unvalidated against health outcomes. In a review of 14 composite health scores of readiness and recovery, HRV contributed 86% to the scores, followed by reading heart rate (79%), physical activity and sleep duration (both at 71%). That review noted the substantial variability in measurement protools and lack of standardization. Sleep staging is notoriously inconsistent and inaccurate by these sensors, which adds further to the HRV uncertainties for what the scores, which use sleep stage data, mean. Only resting heart rate has been shown consistently across devices to be extremely accurate. I’ve made a Table to summarize what we know about which metrics are included, the scores, any peer-reviewed studies that compared the readiness score with health outcomes, and the corresponding (if any, NA-not available) citation. You will note that some companies do not use the term “readiness," such as WHOOP for recovery, and Garmin, which has 2 different scores, one of which is Body Battery. Eight Sleep uses the term “Fitness Score.” They all include HRV; Apple includes a new metric they call “Recovery HRV” which among other components uses 7-days of sleep, but it is unclear what this means or how it is differentiated from other scores (there are clearly no data for outcomes). We have no knowledge of how the different components are weighted or whether any of these scores are better than resting heart rate, HRV alone, physical activity, or any other single metric. Since none of these are standardized, they are not interchangeable, so if you get a 90 for Oura that has no relationship to a 90 on a Google Fitbit Air. Notably, the company can update its algorithm for readiness score at any point without notification to device users. Without any useful evidence of actionability for these scores or established relationship with health outcomes, it is hard to make a case for their value. At the Apple recent announcement they showed their Readiness score (0-10) on the watch (Figure below) but there are no published data on this score, not even on their website. It’s available only on their new Watch Series 12 or Ultra 4 [of course, ;-)]. That exemplifies the problems with these scores, lack of data and evidence for being meaningful to promote health. Perhaps the best study (which isn’t saying much) is the WHOOP Recovery for golfer performance, because it did correlate with an objective outcome, even though there was no control group and the authors were all from the company. Among the 389 pro golfers, an absolute 10-per cent point increase in Recovery score was associated with about 0.5 fewer strokes per round. But that’s hardly a health outcome! WHOOP is also conducting a study in over 2,700 runners to see if their recovery score will be linked to less injuries and improved performance, but that is not yet published and has no control group or randomization. Putting This in Context For two decades I’ve been enthusiastic about the potential for digital health and particularly wearable biosensors. Over the years, we’ve seen some great progress for their ability to promote physical activity and accurately detect atrial fibrillation (the first FDA cleared deep learning AI for consumers). That work was the subject of rigorous research. But there are holes in the data and evidence for other metrics. One notable one is the “VO2 max” story that I wrote about earlier this year. At that time many subscribers asked me to cover heart rate variability, which I finally got to here. When I dived into the research and publication for HRV and readiness scores, I expected to find at least some that were of high quality and demonstrated their utility by linkage to health outcomes. To my surprise, I found none. The wearable sensor measurements for HRV (PRV) are, for the most part, accurate, but that validation work has only been done in small studies of healthy adults and does not take into account the long list of factors, from the device, software side, and the user side, that affect HRV measurements. Moreover, this metric chiefly relies on optical sensing and, as we have learned for heart rate PPG sensing, may be less accurate in people of color. Keep in mind that all of the health outcome association evidence comes from ECG-derived HRV; none are from wearable sensor data. I will repeat the key point: there's no peer-reviewed evidence to show that in-person HRV fluctuation—or efforts to raise your HRV— has any correlation with health outcomes. For those of you who look at your HRV on awakening, or even 2+ week trends of it being low, I hope this context helps to relieve any anxiety. Yes, low HRV (not PRV) has been shown to increase risk of some diseases as summarized above. But efforts to raise your HRV—a surrogate metric— has not been established for improving any health outcomes. HRV does not have any evidence of causality (the genetic evidence actually goes against this possibility). In this summary, I have not included data for other wearable sensors such as Polar, Samsung, Withings, Suunto, Amazfit, Coros, Ultrahuman, or additional mattress sensors. These are beyond my first-hand experience, and as far as I know from my in-depth review none have any peer-reviewed published data that differ from the 6 sensors I’ve reviewed here. From the points I’ve gone over above, we’re not ready for readiness scores. Besides being proprietary, they are predominantly based on metrics that have their own issues. It’s compounding the problem, like building a house without a solid foundation that has never undergone a rigorous inspection, and then selling it. Like I mentioned for PRV, you can look at trends over weeks rather than any single day, to get a handle, but even that may not be helpful. There’s simply no evidence that these scores meaningfully relate to health outcomes. I’d emphasize they might, but that requires doing prospective or randomized studies to prove it. None exist. There’s great promise for HRV/PRV utility_. For example**,**_ Prof Maiken Nedergaard, who discovered the brain glymphatics that are essential in eliminating metabolic waste products from the brain during sleep, has posited that HRV could be a non-invasive marker for neuromodulator oscillations, brain-body regulatory circuits, and brain clearance. That would be extremely useful, but like everything else on HRV and readiness scores it requires solid research and validation. The lay media isn’t helping much to get the story straight. Earlier this year The Economist published a piece entitled “The most useful indicator of your overall health” which ordained HRV as an “accumulated stress score.” That’s akin to the false assertion about VO2max: “V02 max is the singular most powerful marker for longevity.” As I’ve summarized here, that is not established. The fact is that so many things can lower HRV, including physical exercise (especially an intense workout), reduced sleep quality, stress, the list above, no less the device, signal, and software. Whatever fluctuations observed have not been correlated with any health outcome. Sadly, “datamaxxers” are widely using HRV and readiness scores that have never been validated to mean anything. We already know that for some people using the sensors for sleep metrics, it can induce “orthosomnia,” an obsession to get high sleep quality, with associated high levels of anxiety. In an experiment done by a company to promote sleep quality for its employees, “For those employees who did use the trackers, many reported feeling perfectly rested until their tracker told them they had had a terrible night. Others were told that they had slept like a baby when they had actually been lying awake worrying about the quality of their sleep. “ The same problem can result from preoccupation with HRV or readiness scores, with anxiety that would lead to further reduction in both. It you are using a wearable like >100 million American adults, it’s OK to look at these data, but contextualized with the major caveats reviewed here. If you are one to require evidence that HRV or readiness scores are linked to health outcomes, you may not even want to look. The companies make it hard to turn them off! Let me end with the companies that make and sell wearables. Apple’s doubling down on HRV (24-fold more reporting and heart rate very 5 seconds) and introduction of a Readiness score tells us that consumers have bought into these metrics and they are joining the club. However, all of this is occurring with a backdrop of tens millions of users, claims about the data that are not backed up by adequate evidence, marketing way out in front of whatever limited data exists, and not being transparent about their readiness score algorithms. The companies can well afford to do the research that is needed to connect these metrics with health outcomes show, once and for all, that increasing HRV or using readiness scores promotes our health. If they believed and invested in the products they are selling, we’d not be in this position of not knowing. That’s essentially where we are with HRV and readiness scores. Perhaps someday this will change and we’ll have good reason to embrace them. NB: I wrote this post. No AI. I have no conflicts of interest with any of its content. Loading... Ground Truths has 215,000 subscribers from every US state and 214 countries. There are over 300,000 followers of Ground Truths so more than 90,000 folks who can easily convert to be free subscribers. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. If you’re not a subscriber, please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths The proceeds from all voluntary paid subscriptions go to support our summer internship program. It enabled us to accept and support a record number of 62 summer interns that joined us in 2026! These are high school, college and medical students selected from thousands of applicants. We couldn’t do this expanded program without the funds coming in through Ground Truths. Thank you!
South Brooklyn Health Opens 250th Anniversary Art Exhibition
NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health and Be Proud Inc. have opened the God Bless America art exhibition, featuring 19 original artworks celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Detroit Tigers Must Win Out to Keep Playoff Dreams Alive
With elimination looming, Detroit must sweep their final eight games and bank on outside help to complete an improbable late-season surge toward the American League playoffs.
Scientists discover a new tiger cat hiding in plain sight
A newly identified South American tiger cat is the first cat species discovered in a century. revealing more diversity among tiger cats than previously known.
Business Professionals at FHS
BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS — The Fergus chapter of Business Professionals of America (BPA) elected officers this week in preparation for a year of business-related competition at the regional, state and national
Mark Kelly Calls for Reversal of Trump’s Healthcare Cuts: 'Making Sure Every American Can Afford Quality Care'
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) called for a reversal of President Donald Trump’s "healthcare cuts," arguing that Americans should be able to access affordable, quality medical care regardless of where they...
Sullivan Fall Fest promises family fun
A Fall Festival will take place at the Sorrento Sullivan Recreation Center on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Why BofA is calling for 2 more rate hikes in 2026
Bank of America thinks the Federal Reserve has just kicked off a hiking spree heading into the end of the year.
‘All about the business’ – Bills COO defends playing Canadian national anthem on American soil
Buffalo Bills chief operating officer sees nothing wrong with playing the Canadian national anthem. The Buffalo Bills registered a resounding 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions during their first-ever regular season game at the new Highmark Stadium.
Remembering designer Bob Mackie and his impact on American culture [Unscripted column]
When I was a tween and then a teen in the late 1960s and into the ’70s, I wouldn’t dare miss “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” or “The Carol
Here's how Lakeland upended highly touted American Heritage
Matwain Bryant's interception clinches Lakeland's 21-16 victory over American Heritage.
ISOJ 2026 Day 2: Publishers are facing a new middleman as AI changes the business
ISOJ 2026 Day 2: Publishers are facing a new middleman as AI changes the business ISOJ. Latin American Journalism Review by The Knight Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
Thomas Jefferson’s hair linked to Sally Hemings’ children
For more than 200 years, the question has nagged at the edges of American history: Did Thomas Jefferson father children by Sally Hemings, a woman he enslaved?
Fashion executive resigns days after restraining PETA protesters at New York runway show
The longtime chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America says he is stepping down.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
Kirk Herbstreit Trashed For 'Cowardly' Stance On Ted Cruz, American Politics
Fans aren't holding back.
PAHO: Strengthening El Niño raises growing health risks across the Americas
Drought, food insecurity, dengue, wildfires, and flooding are already affecting several countries across the region as El Niño intensifies.Washington, D.C., September 18, 2026 (PAHO) – El Niño continues to strengthen and could have significant public health impacts across the Americas in the coming months, according to the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) first regional situation report on the phenomenon.
Russia Aims to Inject Chaos Into Elections, U.S. Intelligence Finds
The Kremlin is once again seeking to undermine confidence in American democracy with online influence campaigns, U.S. officials said.
Boyer appointed to ABA Emerging Leaders Council
Devin Boyer, senior vice president and Central Iowa market leader for Nicolet National Bank in West Des Moines, has been appointed to the American Bankers Association’s Emerging Leaders Council for the 2026-27 association year. The council works to identify, connect and develop current and future banking leaders and helps guide ABA programming related to leadership…
United Bank hires Phil Poliquin to lead government contracting business
Phil PoliquinUnited Bank, a subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI), has announced that Phil Poliquin has joined the Bank as senior vice president and managing director of Government Contracting (GovCon), leading the next phase of growth for United’s GovCon business across the Bank’s footprint.United has a longstanding history of serving government contractors and meeting the dynamic banking needs of companies supporting federal, state and commercial markets. Building on that foundation, the Bank is establishing a dedicated GovCon team led by Poliquin. The new team will bring together bankers from across United's footprint under a focused strategy designed to deepen industry expertise, strengthen client relationships and expand the Bank's presence in this important market.“Government contractors operate in a complex and highly specialized environment, and Phil understands that environment from multiple perspectives,” said United Bank Chief Commercial Lending Officer Mike Proctor in a press release. “His extensive commercial banking experience, combined with more than two decades of military and government service, brings tremendous depth and expertise to our team. We’re excited to have his leadership and insight as we continue strengthening how United serves our GovCon clients across the nation’s capital and beyond.”In his new role, Poliquin will lead United’s GovCon lending strategy and a team of specialists, with a focus on deepening client relationships and expanding the Bank’s presence in the government contracting and defense sectors. He will also serve as a subject matter expert across the organization, partnering with bankers across United’s footprint to support GovCon clients and opportunities.“Government contracting has long been an important part of the economy across the Washington region, and we believe it remains an attractive sector for growth,” said United Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Adams, Jr. in a press release “As the needs of these companies continue to evolve, investing in specialized leadership strengthens our ability to build on our established presence, expand how we serve this market, and pursue new opportunities.”Poliquin has a decade of experience in commercial banking, most recently serving as executive director of Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services (ADG) commercial banking at JPMorgan Chase. In this role, he led a team responsible for providing specialized financing and treasury advice to federal government contractor companies across the nation. Previously, he also held senior leadership positions at Bank of America.Prior to his banking career, Poliquin served 24 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring at the rank of Captain in 2013. A Naval aviator, he flew more than 100 combat missions in operations around the world and served in senior leadership positions, including as commanding officer of an F/A-18 Super Hornet squadron, leading more than 250 personnel during two combat deployments. He later joined the Intelligence Community as a program manager at the National Reconnaissance Office and contributed to the development of the Navy’s unmanned aircraft system strategy.“United has a strong foundation in government contracting, and I’m excited about the opportunity to build on that foundation by expanding our industry presence, deepening relationships, and developing a team with specialized expertise focused on serving government contractors,” said Poliquin in the release. “The goal is to be a trusted resource for growth-oriented companies that need a banking partner who understands what they do, where they’re headed and can help them navigate the opportunities and complexities of this market.”Poliquin holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in national security strategy from the U.S. Naval War College, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Why AI is speeding up scientific research but not lab experiments
A new report by Google, Google DeepMind and MIT finds that researchers are using AI…a lot. It’s just not helping as much in the lab
Americans cite high insurance premiums, out-of-pocket costs as top health care concerns
A recent Commonwealth Fund survey of more than 25,000 U.S. adults found that Americans are struggling to afford health insurance and care.
From 22,000 Miles Up, This Satellite Tracks Airborne Health Threats Almost in Real Time
The new instrument, called TEMPO, captures hourly snapshots of the pollutants swirling in the daytime atmosphere over North America—“chemical weather” reports that are helpful to public health researchers and government officials
Interview: Bishop Olson on the ‘racist and sinful rhetoric’ of a Texas politician
Bishop Olson responded to Bo French: “This is racist and sinful rhetoric that seeks to harm and to divide. It is disturbing that it comes from a candidate for public office. An apology is called for.”
Bills' decision to play Canadian anthem is "all about the business"
The Bills christened their new stadium with both the American and Canadian national anthems, with the quartet known as Barenaked Ladies singing O Canada before kickoff.
The Latest: Early midterm voting gets underway with control of Congress at stake
In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections is underway in Virginia, ushering in the final six weeks for Americans to decide which party they trust to lead Congress at a
Early voting begins in US midterm elections that could flip control of Congress
In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections is underway. Friday marked the start of early voting in Virginia, ushering in the final six weeks for Americans to decide which party
University of Arkansas wins intermodal association challenge
The Intermodal Association of North America, the Calverton, Md.-based trade group representing the interests of the intermodal freight transportation industry, said the University of Arkansas won the association’s 2026 Academic...
Early voting begins in U.S. midterm elections that could flip control of Congress
In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections began Friday, ushering in the final six weeks for Americans to decide which party they trust to lead Congress through a cost-of-living crisis, a prolonged war in Iran and other pressing issues.
New Species of Cat Discovered for First Time in a Century
The species, called a tilcayo, is smaller than a house cat and lives in the cloud forests of the Andes Mountains in Bolivia.
‘American Idol’ star recalls being outed on live TV: ‘I died inside’
Clay Aiken reflected on Rosie O’Donnell publicly discussing his sexuality in 2006, two years before he came out publicly.
America's long history of falling for hucksters and their outlandish promises
America is the land of possibility and the land of cockamamie schemes. Our enduring belief that anything is possible has helped the nation become the world’s largest economy, but it
Duncan Sheik, Tony Award-winning composer, dies at 56
Duncan Sheik attends 'The Broadway Legacy Foundation Launch' at the Broadway Museum on November 11, 2025 in New York City. (Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)Duncan Sheik, the Tony Award-winning composer behind Spring Awakening and more, has died, according to his Instagram. He was 56.The Friday morning Instagram post said the "father, husband, son, brother, and friend" died on Thursday night "surrounded by love."A message shared on Sheik's Instagram earlier this week by his family said he was "receiving medical care" and was "in critical but stable condition.""The world has a lost a singular talent, and deeply influential voice in music and theater," Friday's statement said. "From his Grammy-nominated hit “Barely Breathing” to his groundbreaking, Tony and Grammy Award-winning work on Spring Awakening, Duncan’s artistry touched many and leaves an indelible mark on the cultural landscape."Born on Nov. 18, 1969, in Montclair, New Jersey, Sheik rose to fame in 1996 when he released his self-titled debut album, which included his hit song, "Barely Breathing."The song peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and earned him a Grammy nomination for best male pop vocal performance.Following his debut album, he released Humming in 1998, Phantom Moon in 2001 and Daylight in 2002.While "Barely Breathing" established Sheik as a singer-songwriter, his career later expanded into musical theater, where he found success as a composer.Sheik collaborated with lyricist Steven Sater and composed the music for Spring Awakening, which opened on Broadway in 2006.He told Broadcast Music, Inc. in 2015 that around the time he was making the music for Spring Awakening, he wasn't "a huge fan" of music that was happening on Broadway and he wanted to make the music for an audience "beyond the normal crowd that would go to a Broadway musical."The rock musical, based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 play and starring Jonathan Groff, Lea Michele, John Gallagher and Skylar Astin, became a major success. It won eight Tony Awards in 2007, including best musical, best original score and best orchestrations.He went on to compose music for several other stage productions, including American Psycho and Because of Winn-Dixie. He also collaborated with Sater again on Alice by Heart and The Secret Life of Bees.In his interview with Broadcast Music, Inc., he added that working on musical theater has "helped broaden my palette."Sheik went on to release several more albums throughout his career, including White Limousine, Whisper House, Covers 80s, Legerdemain and Claptrap.In May, it was announced that Sheik's new musical, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, would make its off-Broadway debut this fall. The musical is based on Moyoco Anno's manga graphic novel of the same name.An off-Broadway revival of Spring Awakening is also set to open this fall. Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
PAHO strengthens regional dialogue to prevent and respond to violence against health workers
Washington, D.C., September 18, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) brought together about 400 participants from 34 countries in the Region for a virtual seminar to analyze the challenges posed by violence against health workers and promote comprehensive responses for its prevention and management. Additionally, a new factsheet titled Preventing violence against health workers in the Region of the Americas was presented.
How much does playoff viewership increase from round to round?
When the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays faced off in the Wild Card Series in 2022, just 1.76 million people tuned in. Yet, three years later, when the same two teams met in the American League Championship Series, Game 1 featured an audience of 5.19 million people. You can see this in all major…
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Cody Fern says he was cast as a ‘Jared Kushner type’ villain on ‘House of Cards’ before the show imploded
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Prize-winning author Phil Klay takes over at PEN America amid Israel-Hamas war rifts
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Prize-winning author Phil Klay takes over at PEN America amid Israel-Hamas war rifts
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My Nintendo Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Heroic Sweepstakes Announced (North America)
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One Year Of America First Global Health Strategy: Controversy, Secrecy And Suffering
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Bookwaves/Artwaves - September 17, 2026: Mary Roach, America's Funniest Science Author, Part One
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Burna Boy to headline NFL halftime show in Paris
Burna Boy for 'Global Citizen Live.' (ABC)Burna Boy will take the stage at the NFL's debut in France.The Nigerian Afro-fusion singer was named as the headline performer for the NFL's Paris Game on Oct. 25 at Stade de France, in an exclusive announcement on Good Morning America Thursday morning.The NFL Paris Game will be the first NFL game played in France, and one of a record nine international games played this season.The Paris Game, played between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, is one of seven international games that will feature a halftime show this season.Burna Boy, a native of Nigeria and the artist behind songs such as "Last Last" and "Love," shared a statement on the event in a release from the NFL regarding the show."The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music and I intend to give the people a show they will not forget," he stated.Tim Tubito, senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment at the NFL, said in a statement, "Paris is one of the great cultural capitals of the world, and African music sits right at the heart of what the city listens to."The Jonas Brothers, Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin, Ayra Starr, Cage The Elephant and The Warning have already been announced as international game performers at NFL games this season, according to the release.Rio de Janeiro and Paris will both see NFL games for the first time this year, while London, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City will return as hosts this season. Melbourne also hosted their first NFL game earlier this season.The Paris Game will air Sunday, Oct. 25, at 9:30 a.m. ET on the NFL Network.Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
UWF professor’s work with chemical science students earns major national recognition
University of West Florida professor Dr. Karen Molek received the American Chemical Society's Dreyfus Award for her work in encouraging economically disadvantaged students to pursue careers in chemica...