SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Mitt " 2,669 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Industry Experts Testify on Rise of Sports Betting & Prediction Markets
A Senate Commerce subcommittee holds a hearing on the expansion of sports betting and prediction markets.
Musical reviews: 'Brigadoon' soars, 'Flower Drum Song' falters
'Brigadoon' soars at Pasadena Playhouse but 'Flower Drum Song' only intermittently comes to life at Little Tokyo's Aratani Theatre despite best intentions.
Giants' Robbie Ray Searches for Answers After Outing
San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray admitted that the Arizona Diamondbacks appeared locked in throughout Monday’s 12-2 loss.
Exclusive: US Health Secretary Kennedy backs away from some recent changes to CDC vaccine panel
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s latest effort to reconstitute a CDC vaccine advisory committee backs away from some reforms he announced just weeks ago and could complicate his efforts to alter federal immunization policy, according to a copy of the plan reviewed by Reuters.
Flag football moves toward NCAA title status before '28 Olympics
The NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact voted Tuesday to recommend that Divisions I, II and III add a national collegiate flag football championship as soon as the spring of 2028.
Black leaders turn to collegiate sports in fight over Southern representation
The NAACP’s Out of Bounds campaign urges Black student athletes to avoid committing to top athletic programs in the South unless Black political power is restored.
Southampton joins a list of sports teams to be punished for spying on rivals
Southampton has been expelled from the second-tier Championship playoff final after admitting to the unauthorized filming of other clubs' practice sessions.
He Went With Ken!
After months of being noncommittal, President Donald Trump finally announced he’s endorsing Ken Paxton.
Senate Small Business Hearing Suggests Some Tariff Wariness - Coalition For A Prosperous America
A Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing held last week had only one manufacturer serving as a witness. He liked the tariffs because they stopped the bloodletting of cheaper imitations from China. However, he told the Senate that changes could be made to existing tariff policy to help lower costs as commodity and other input prices are rising fast.
Xbox Player Voice requests reveal what fans want most from Microsoft
Xbox fans have wasted no time in submitting feedback to Microsoft with the new Xbox Player Voice portal. Here are the top 10 requests from players.
Blackstone pledges $5B to launch TPU-powered AI cloud business with Google
Blackstone and Google launch a new U.S. data center venture offering TPU compute-as-a-service, with $5B committed for 500MW by 2027.
Former leader of major Durham political group indicted on embezzlement charges
Cassandra Stokes, former chair of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, is accused of misappropriating nearly $75,000.
Trump administration proposes admitting more White South African refugees
The Trump administration is proposing increasing the refugee admissions ceiling to 17,500 for White South Africans, according to a State Department report to Congress obtained by CNN.
New Health Law Section Chair Jim Dering Wants To Hear From You - New York State Bar Association
Jim Dering plans on getting on feedback from members as he starts his term as the new chair of the Health Law Section. “To work with the Health Law Section’s other officers and Executive Committee, as well as others, in continuing to advance the section’s efforts to best serve existing members and attract new ones,”
Kudos to Cheer Club, College of Business faculty, Cybersecurity team and more
Becky Cottrell, Ph.D., Department of Social Work, and Bridget Arend, Ph.D., School of Education Becky Cottrell from the Department of Social Work and Bridget Arend, Ph.D., from the School of Education co-authored an article recently published in an international journal. Read the article. Biff Baker, Ph.D., College of Business Biff Baker, Ph.D., received a Best in Track award from the Society for Advancement of Management for research examining bureaucratic inefficiencies within Section 8 subsidized housing programs. The study focuses on how administrative delays and communication breakdowns can create housing instability for families and discourage landlord participation. It also offers recommendations to improve accountability and trust in public housing systems. Brendan Fry, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics and Statistics Brendan Fry, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, co-authored the article “Modeling the Impact of Venous Collapsibility on Retinal Oxygenation,” published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. The interdisciplinary research brought together scholars from the University of Delaware, Indiana University Indianapolis, McGill University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Access the article. Bridget Arend, Ph.D., School of Education Bridget Arend, Ph.D., professor in the School of Education, co-published the book “Facilitating Seven Ways of Learning: A Resource for More Purposeful, Effective, and Enjoyable College Teaching, Second Edition” with James R. Davis. The book explores practical approaches to improving college teaching and student learning experiences. Buy the book. College of Business Faculty At the 2026 Western Decision Sciences Institute international conference, Sally Baalbaki-Yassine, Ph.D., Debora Gilliard, Ph.D., and David Lynn Hoffman, Ph.D., from the College of Business received the Best Case Study Paper Award for “Oreo: A Global Success Story in Brand Evolution and Market Leadership.” Lisa McVicker, Ph.D., and Apryl Brodersen, Ph.D., also had their paper, “Electronic Performance Monitoring: Employer Panacea or Legal Quagmire?” accepted for publication in the Journal of Business Leadership. Community Engagement Exchange Program Metropolitan State University of Denver was selected to host international Fellow Aleja Henao Espitia of Bogotá, Colombia through the Community Engagement Exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State. View Espitia's LinkedIn profile. David Varel, Ph.D., College of Letters, Arts and Sciences MSU Denver historian David Varel, Ph.D., has been awarded a 2026 ACLS Fellowship by the American Council of Learned Societies. The fellowship program supports outstanding scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, and selected just 63 scholars from more than 2,000 applicants this year. Varel’s project, “The Black Chicago School: Academic Activism in the Age of American Apartheid,” explores the work of Black scholars who challenged scientific racism, built alternative institutions and helped lay the foundation for the modern civil rights movement. The fellowship provides up to $60,000 to support full-time research and writing. Learn more about the fellowship. MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid Team Several MSU Denver employees were recognized for leadership and service during the Colorado Association of Financial Aid Administrators (CAFAA) conference held in May in Crested Butte. Don Holtzen, interim associate director of systems, chaired the conference and was recognized for his service as CAFAA conference chair and technology chair during the 2025-26 term. Holtzen also received the Postsecondary Institution Professional of the Year award, which recognizes financial-aid professionals who have made significant contributions to their institutions and to CAFAA. Tori Pacheco, associate director of Student Services, helped design décor and facilitate the conference and was recognized for her service as CAFAA secretary during the 2025-26 term. Destiny Candelaria, call center coordinator, served on the conference planning committee and presented on One Stops during the event. Michael Nguyen, executive director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, assisted as a CAFAA board member and was recognized for serving as president-elect during the 2025-26 term. Richard Balbag, program assistant I, received the Distinguished Support Staff Member of the Year award, honoring staff members who have made exceptional contributions to their financial-aid offices. Military Friendly Recognition Military Friendly has awarded MSU Denver Gold Status as a military-friendly university and ranked the University No. 7 nationally for military spouses. The recognition reflects MSU Denver’s strong support systems for veterans and military spouses, including transfer credit assistance and retention-focused resources. As of 2026, 1,050 military-connected students are enrolled at the University, advancing institutional priorities around serving veterans and supporting student retention. MSU Denver Cheer Club The MSU Denver Cheer Club earned third place in the 4-Year College Small Coed Intermediate division at the USA Spirit Nationals. Celebrate the win on Instagram. MSU Denver Cybersecurity Team An MSU Denver cybersecurity team earned first place in the Strategist category at the 2026 CYBER RECon National Competition hosted at Fort Meade, Maryland, by U.S. Cyber Command. Led by Jeffrey London, Ph.D., and undergraduate student Matthew Bopp, the team competed against universities and law schools nationwide with its 30-page legal analysis on cybersecurity and free speech titled “Freedom of Speech and MDM: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation.” The paper also earned Bopp a personal invitation to apply to the University of Maryland School of Law. MSU Denver Debate Team MSU Denver Debate won the 2026 Sierra Sustainability Summit hosted at Yosemite National Park in April. Students Kat Conte and Simon Bernhard bested teams from George Washington University, Gallaudet University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the University of San Francisco and Tennessee Tech in the modified present-and-defend style competition. Their proposal recommended adapting Colorado’s Keep Colorado Wild Pass model to support California state parks facing budget constraints. Learn about the summit. MSU Denver Women’s Golf MSU Denver Women’s Golf was represented on the national stage this month as junior Neige Dunn competed as an individual at the NCAA West Regional. She became the first Roadrunner in 10 years to qualify for NCAA Regionals as an individual. Get the details.
Risky Business: More Guidance Needed for Companies in Conflict Zones
In a comment submitted to the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, CBHR and Steptoe LLP urged the need for clearer guidance on corporate responsibility in conflict zones, where overlapping bodies of international law leave businesses unsure of their obligations.
Politicians criticize MS Lt. Gov. Hosemann's redistricting committee
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann's committee on redistricting caught flak from some of his Republican colleagues because it includes two Democratic senators.
WNBA graphic omitting Caitlin Clark shows identity politics still come first
OutKick argues the WNBA once again snubbed Caitlin Clark from a promotional graphic, choosing a player averaging 1.0 points per game over its biggest star.
New MatterChat Model Helps AI to ‘See’ the Language of Science
From writing emails to generating computer code, much of the artificial intelligence prevalent in our daily lives has succeeded by mastering one domain: text. However, this leaves a major blind spot in the physical sciences, where models depend on the high-resolution, three-dimensional data of the physical world, like the intricate lattice of atoms in a crystal. Delivering on the promise of using AI for science requires teaching these data-driven text models to seamlessly “talk to” physics-based models. Now, a new AI framework from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), called MatterChat, solves this problem by creating a specialized “bridge.” It connects the conversational power of a Large Language Model (LLM) with a physics-based AI that models “interatomic potentials”: the complex physical forces between atoms. The resulting system already significantly outperforms general-purpose AI tools like GPT-4 at predicting material properties, and the team hopes it can accelerate scientific discovery by serving as a robust research partner that provides grounded insights and generates step-by-step instructions for synthesizing novel materials. A paper describing this work was recently published in Nature Machine Intelligence. “Traditional simulations can provide the physical rigor required for materials science, yet their computational cost remains prohibitive for high-throughput screening. Conversely, while LLMs excel at rapid knowledge synthesis, they inherently lack the ‘structural vision’ to interpret materials directly from their underlying atomic coordinates,” said Yingheng Tang, a postdoctoral researcher in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Math and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and lead author on the paper. “MatterChat was built to solve this dilemma, empowering LLMs with a structural ‘vision’ that allows researchers to leverage their full potential for solving complex, real-world materials challenges.” Empowering language models to solve complex challenges in materials science To build MatterChat, the Berkeley Lab team drew inspiration from technologies like Vision Question Answering (VQA) and Text-to-Image (T2I) generation. In these tasks, AI must translate high-level text concepts into visual images, or vice versa. Doing so requires developers to build tools that “bridge” two fundamentally different forms of data. The researchers adapted this concept to the physical sciences. With MatterChat, they created a “bridge model” that successfully connects an LLM’s general knowledge with the deep understanding of the atomic-scale world encoded in scientific interatomic potentials. Until now, researchers using LLMs to solve materials problems usually had to feed them raw data files as if they were just strings of text. It’s like asking an AI to understand a complex 3D engine based only on a parts list: the LLM can read the names, but it can’t “see” how the atoms fit together in space. MatterChat solves this by training a specialized AI bridge model, pre-trained on millions of crystal structures and an LLM, to align the LLM’s representation of the world with the interatomic potential’s representation of the world. The bridge model can translate physical insights into a format the LLM can actually understand. By giving the LLM these “scientific eyes”— a scientific “inductive bias” in the terminology of AI — the Berkeley Lab team has transformed it into a robust research tool capable of providing grounded scientific insights into complex materials challenges, such as predicting thermal stability or analyzing electronic band gaps. “We think of atoms as living in a physical space, but from a machine learning perspective, they are just vectors living in some very non-trivially structured manifold in a high-dimensional Euclidean space; and, of course, the same is true for the sentences and paragraphs that we use to express our ideas about those atoms,” said co-author Michael Mahoney, Berkeley Lab’s Scientific Data Division (SDD) AI Initiative Research Lead. “The bridge model basically gets those two structures to ‘talk with’ each other.” As a proof-of-concept of this general approach, the team trained their bridge model on a dataset curated by pairing nearly 143,000 stable atomic structures from the Materials Project with their corresponding physical properties. This training data was automatically assembled using the Materials Project’s API and deliberately enriched with properties fundamental to microelectronics design — like formation energy and bandgap — allowing MatterChat to learn the complex patterns connecting a material’s atomic blueprint to its functional performance. To validate their model, the researchers benchmarked MatterChat against a suite of other AI systems, from general-purpose LLMs to other specialized scientific AI methods. The results show that MatterChat consistently outperformed its competitors across a range of tasks. The model was more accurate in classifying material types and demonstrated superior precision in predicting numerical properties. For example, it excelled at predicting a material’s bandgap, a property critical for designing new electronics from high-capacity energy storage to next-generation computer chips. “Our design is significantly more efficient because we don’t have to build a massive AI model from the ground up,” said co-author Zhi (Jackie) Yao, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s AMCR. “Instead, we take two powerful, pre-trained models — a structural encoder for materials physics and an open-source LLM — and use them off-the-shelf. The only component we actually train is the lightweight ‘bridge model’ that translates between them. It’s the difference between building an entire car factory and simply designing a smart adapter that connects a world-class engine to a world-class navigation system. This approach is not only computationally efficient, but also makes the system modular, so we can easily upgrade components or adapt the bridge for other scientific domains in the future.” Crucially, this modular design highlights exactly how institutions like Berkeley Lab and the Department of Energy are carving out a highly valuable niche in the booming AI landscape. Rather than competing with Silicon Valley tech giants to build ever-larger language models from scratch, the lab is focusing on the specialized connective tissue that makes commercial AI useful for hardcore science. Because the bridge model approach underlying MatterChat is forward-compatible, it is perfectly positioned to leverage these parallel tracks of innovation. As Mahoney pointed out, “We expect that industry will continue to develop improved LLMs, and we expect domain scientists and facilities will continue to generate new data. An important part of scientific machine learning is not simply to solve problems on today’s data, but instead to develop general methods that will be forward-compatible with orders of magnitude more data, whether from scientific domains or from LLMs.” According to Yao, the MatterChat project, which was initially developed and enhanced with funding from a Berkeley Lab Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) Program, will now expand its capabilities. In a collaboration with Fermilab, MatterChat is already contributing to a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission project — called Accelerating eXtreme Environment Specs-to-Silicon (AXESS) — that aims to speed up the development of next-generation, high-speed, radiation-hardened detectors for challenging particle physics experiments by using advanced 3D integrated circuits (chiplets) and AI-driven data analysis. In addition to the LDRD support, the team also credits supercomputing resources at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), located at Berkeley Lab, with MatterChat’s success. “We are incredibly grateful to NERSC; this research simply would not have happened without access to the Perlmutter supercomputer through their AI for Science program,” said Tang. Wenbin Xu, a NERSC postdoctoral fellow at the time, was also a major co-author of the work, as was Benjamin Erichson, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s SDD, highlighting the benefits of AMCR-SDD collaboration on AI for science. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Cassidy primary defeat is a 'loss for the country,' Romney says
Former Sen. Mitt Romney calls Bill Cassidy's Louisiana Republican primary defeat a loss for the country as Trump revels in the senator's ouster.
Delaware health protections, human trafficking awareness bills advance
A slew of health care affordability, protections made waves in Dover, while bill to preserve lottery sales cleared committee. Catch up here.
Carrick backs Shaw for the World Cup
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick thinks Luke Shaw should be in England's World Cup squad when it is announced by Thomas Tuchel on Friday. Shaw was named in Tuchel's expanded 55-man squad when it was submitted to world governing body Fifa earlier this month. The 30-year-old has started every Premier League game for United this season, and he scored his first goal for the club in over three years in the 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Colorado GOP plays with fire as primary approaches
Over the next several weeks, the Colorado Republican Party will make consequential decisions that will determine just how relevant it will be in 2026 and beyond. The 600-member Colorado Republican State Central Committee will meet on May 30 to elect a new state chair following the resignation of Brita Horn. The Colorado Republican Primary Election […]
IRC to World Health Assembly: Close the Global Health Equity Gap — for the World’s Benefit
As the world faces the largest Ebola outbreak in more than a decade in a region with chronic violence and instability, and as infectious diseases such as the hantavirus command global attention, the International Rescue Committee is urging delegates gathering for the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) to make sustained investments into fragile and conflict-affected states.
How Cassidy’s loss could turn into an even bigger win for RFK Jr.
Sen. Roger Marshall, a Make America Healthy Again devotee, is angling to replace the defeated Louisiana senator atop the Health Committee.
How Cassidy’s loss could turn into an even bigger win for RFK Jr.
Sen. Roger Marshall, a Make America Healthy Again devotee, is angling to replace the defeated Louisiana senator atop the Health Committee.
What GOP officials are hopeful — and worried — about six months from the midterms
NBC News spoke to roughly 30 Republican National Committee members and GOP activists around the country about how the party can keep control of Congress in November.
Khloé Kardashian Slammed for Sharing ‘Conspiracy Theories’ in Nancy Guthrie Case
The reality star sounded off on Guthrie’s disappearance despite admitting she wasn’t sure she knew enough about the case.
Khloé Kardashian Slammed for Sharing ‘Conspiracy Theories’ in Nancy Guthrie Case
The reality star sounded off on Guthrie’s disappearance despite admitting she wasn’t sure she knew enough about the case.
Khloé Kardashian Slammed for Sharing ‘Conspiracy Theories’ in Nancy Guthrie Case
The reality star sounded off on Guthrie’s disappearance despite admitting she wasn’t sure she knew enough about the case.
Khloé Kardashian Slammed for Sharing ‘Conspiracy Theories’ in Nancy Guthrie Case
The reality star sounded off on Guthrie’s disappearance despite admitting she wasn’t sure she knew enough about the case.
Khloé Kardashian Slammed for Sharing ‘Conspiracy Theories’ in Nancy Guthrie Case
The reality star sounded off on Guthrie’s disappearance despite admitting she wasn’t sure she knew enough about the case.
Elite Georgia WR decommit decides on top three schools
Three-star wide receiver Aden Starling, who decommitted from the Georgia Bulldogs, has listed his top three schools
Young Dolph Shooter Pleads Guilty, Concluding Rapper’s Murder Case
Cornelius Smith Jr., who previously admitted to shooting the rapper at a co-defendant's trial, sentenced to 20 years in prison
Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
Player Availability Report: #ATXvSKC
Player Availability Report is SportingKC.com’s look at the latest status updates around the team ahead of upcoming matches and is presented by Saint Luke’s. All details listed are from the league’s official Player Status Report that is submitted the day prior to the match. Sporting Kansas City is back on
Continuing The Woodson Legacy: Charles Woodson Jr. Commits to Michigan
Charles Woodson Jr., son of legendary safety Charles Woodson, has followed in his father's footsteps and has committed to Michigan.
Opinion: DPW Building Committee Needs to Change How It Conducts Its Business
On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, I drove to downtown Amherst in the middle of the afternoon to attend a meeting of the committee overseeing the construction of the town's new DPW facility — the DPW Building Committee (DPWBC). There was essentially one agenda item: reviewing the evaluation criteria that will be used to select a
Dragon Nears Launch as Crew Works Biomedical Science and Spacewalk Preps
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a cargo-packed Dragon spacecraft atop, stands ready to launch to the International Space Station at 6:05 p.m. EDT today, weather permitting, from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Argentine protests condemn science funding shortfall
Demonstrators across the country called for the government to increase public university salaries and funding for scientific research.
Argentine protests condemn science funding shortfall
Demonstrators across the country called for the government to increase public university salaries and funding for scientific research.
Proposed VHC Health facility needs more public input, County Board candidates say
The three Democratic candidates for County Board are all in favor of extensive community input on a proposal for a new behavioral health facility in Glencarlyn. "You need to listen -- it needs to be community-first," challenger Julie Farnam said at a debate hosted by the Arlington County Civic Federation on Tuesday. Farnam and James DeVita
California bill pushing to keep games playable after server shutdowns passes key hurdle, paving way for full assembly vote
A Stop Killing Games-backed California bill pushing to keep games playable after server shutdowns has passed an appropriations committee vote.
Local business leaders, state commit $13 million to Field of Dreams
DYERSVILLE, Iowa — Dubuque County families and business leaders and the state of Iowa have committed $13 million to support ongoing and future development at the Field of Dreams movie
Aspen launches new platform for business licensing, tax filing, STR permitting
The city of Aspen has announced the transition to a new online platform, Localgov, for business licensing, short-term rental permitting and local tax filing beginning June 1.
Peter Bourque, top uncommitted 2027 QB, chooses Virginia Tech
Four-star recruit Peter Bourque, the top uncommitted QB in the 2027 recruiting class, committed to Virginia Tech.
Top available quarterback commits to Virginia Tech over Georgia
James Franklin and the Virginia Tech Hokies have landed Peter Bourque over the Georgia Bulldogs. He was the top uncommitted quarterback.
CFA Counselors Committee Concerns About Mental Health Misinformation
The CFA Counselors Committee sent the following letter to the members of the CSU Board of Trustees last week: Dear Members of the CSU Board of
A White House committee gathered sharp minds to save college football -- instead, they wrote a blog post
From Bird Rights to coach salary caps, the White House committee on 'Saving College Sports' basically wrote government-sponsored college football fan fiction
Local business leaders commit $10 million to support Field of Dreams
DYERSVILLE, Iowa -- Three Iowa families and business leaders have committed $10 million to support ongoing and future development at the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville.
Readers respond: Invest in science education
Letters to the Editor can be submitted to letters@oregonian.com with full name and place of residence.
Precinct committee races could reshape Kootenai County politics
When Lisa Whitehead was appointed to an open seat on the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee about six years ago, she didn’t know much about the role of a precinct committeeman. But as a staunch conservative, she believed she could help the local arm of the GOP.
Apple warns EU against forcing Google to open Android to AI rivals
Apple submitted a filing to the EC today criticizing proposed measures that would force Google to open parts of Android to AI rivals.
Inside the furor plaguing Democratic National Committee leader Ken Martin
Democrats keep winning at the ballot box. And yet Ken Martin, the man leading the Democratic National Committee, is facing a crisis of confidence among party officials who are increasingly concerned about the health of their political machine barely a year into his term.
Health Hearing: Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee.
Grocery Business Hall of Fame unveils 2026 inductees
Grocery Business Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Meet the 20 individuals being inducted into this year's Grocery Business Hall of Fame. TORONTO, May 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grocery Business Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 class, recognizing 20 individuals for their contributions to Canada’s grocery industry and the communities they serve. Selected by an industry committee, this year’s inductees span retail, supplier and industry stewardship roles, reflecting the breadth of leadership driving
Sun Belt SAAC Participates in Spring 2026 Mentorship Initiatives
NEW ORLEANS – Sun Belt Conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) leaders conducted community engagement initiatives centered on mentorship during the Spring 2026 semester.
Inside the furor plaguing Democratic National Committee leader Ken Martin
Democratic operatives have begun informal discussions about recruiting a new chair, even as most believe Martin’s job isn’t in serious jeopardy before the midterm elections.
Democrats abandon rollback of business tax breaks to fund family tax credit after Colorado governor’s veto threat
House Bills 1221 and 1222 were killed in the Senate Finance Committee on Monday at their sponsors’ request in response to a veto threat from Gov. Jared Polis
Health Subcommittee Markup
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee.
Birmingham Entertainment Security Ordinance Pulled Back Following Concerns of Impact on Businesses
A council committee will reconsider details of the proposal.
‘Mental health is not a death sentence’: Jacksonville community group demands new crisis response plan for JSO
Jacksonville Community Action Committee rallied at City Hall, urging a mental-health-led crisis response team. JSO says it’s aware and investigations continue. Recent bridge rescue and Walmart standoff highlight stakes.
GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards, amid House Ethics inquiry, denies having inappropriate relationship with staff
Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards denied having any inappropriate relationship with staff and told CNN in an interview Tuesday that an investigation by the House Ethics Committee will eventually clear him of any wrongdoing.
Validity of 330 signatures could determine future of trans sports initiative
The signature gathering practices of the campaign behind the anti-transgender sports initiative are being cast into doubt, potentially derailing a referendum set to appear on the November ballot. Evidence submitted over several hours to the Secretary of State’s Office Tuesday suggested a pattern of negligence within the campaign behind the citizen’s initiative, with signature collectors […]
Player Availability Report: #SKCvLA
Player Availability Report is SportingKC.com’s look at the latest status updates around the team ahead of upcoming matches and is presented by Saint Luke’s. All details listed are from the league’s official Player Status Report that is submitted the day prior to the match. Sporting Kansas City returns home midweek
Vault: W&M diving into sports tax
The House Ways and Means Committee is preparing for a hearing to investigate a slate of sports-related tax issues, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans.
FBI Director Patel spars with lawmaker who raises reports of his behavior during Hill testimony
FBI Director Kash Patel sparred with a lawmaker briefly during a Tuesday afternoon hearing at the Senate Appropriations Committee when asked about media reports alleging he drinks to excess.
After fiery redistricting hearing, New Orleans Sen. Gary Carter is no longer on key committee
The change follows a contentious hearing over Republican efforts to remove one or both of Louisiana’s majority-Black districts in Congress.
House Democrats Condemn Termination of National Science Board Members
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Officials: Lack of community financial commitment stalled Dubuque sports facility project
Three years after a company based in Arizona took possession of the Dubuque Soccer Complex, officials with the company say they remain committed to constructing an indoor sports facility elsewhere
Sam Altman’s Business Dealings Under GOP Scrutiny Ahead of OpenAI’s IPO
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee says it is investigating, and six GOP state attorneys general are calling for SEC review after a WSJ article.
Democratic strategist launches effort to repeal California’s two-top primary
Steven Maviglio submitted his “Undo the Top Two” proposal on Friday to state officials.
Colorado ethics panel finds probable cause in complaint against Democrat caucus leader
The colleagues of a Democrat unanimously concluded they have probable cause to believe she committed an ethical violation by mismanaging her party caucus’s funds as its co-chair. The House Ethics Committee was charged with examining a complaint from Rep. Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, alleging that Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, mishandled and improperly used caucus funds for […]
City Council panel backs tax incentives for United Center entertainment district
A plan to provide nearly $55 million in tax rebates for the $7 billion project that’s meant to be “transformative” for the West Side sailed through the council’s economic development committee.
City Council panel backs tax incentives for United Center entertainment district
A plan to provide nearly $55 million in tax rebates for the $7 billion project that’s meant to be “transformative” for the West Side sailed through the council’s economic development committee.
Democrat James Talarico, running for Senate to get money out of politics, attracts ultra-wealthy backers
Talarico says he’d like to get rid of political action committees like the one supporting him.
A conversation with Jim Henson biographer Brian Jay Jones
The Clarion Ledger sat down with Brian Jay Jones author of the bestselling biography "Jim Henson: The Biography." Check out our Q+A.
Ballot measure to scrap party primaries sparks Democrat infighting
A ballot question that would eliminate political party primaries for state elections in favor of a single, all-party primary is creating fractures among Massachusetts Democrats, pitting members of the state committee against a handful of prominent figures.
The next unit of science: Is the scientific paper due to be replaced?
Artificial intelligence is pushing scientific publishing to the brink. For a field as sprawling as neuroscience, the crisis may also be an opportunity to finally connect findings across subfields.
Chicago Teachers Union wants $8.5 million dues hike to fund politics
“Has your brand become toxic?” This was a pointed question from WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley, posed to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in a recent interview. Her immediate response: “I don’t understand the question.” When pressed, Gates added, “The Chicago Teachers Union is not a political party, it is a labor union.” But internal union documents show CTU leadership is trying to skim $8.5 million more from teacher paychecks explicitly for politics, while trying to silence union members critical of Gates’ leadership. Under the proposed dues hike, Chicago teachers would see up to $800 more per year flow from their paychecks to union coffers. The union already takes in more than $40 million a year, mostly from dues. And it spends less than 18 cents of every dollar on teacher representation. The No. 1 reason for the proposed dues hike? Politics. “We must win a majority of the first 21 person fully elected school board in November,” reads the first point in CTU’s member FAQ document.1 This directly contradicts CTU’s promise to members about how leadership uses dues money. The official CTU handbook tells members that the union does not use dues money for politics, so if they are interested in funding political activity, they should consider voluntary donations to CTU’s political action committee. “Our dues are not used for political purposes,” according to the handbook. “So our PAC relies on extra contributions from our members to support progressive candidates and to impact elected officials at the city, county and state levels.” This kind of double-speak is one reason members are concerned about another constitutional change slipped into the dues hike vote, which will take place on May 20-21: an attempt to stop members from holding the union accountable. A proposed amendment to the union constitution tries to place limits on when members may bring a lawsuit against the union for violating members’ rights.2 This provision is clearly a response to members’ lawsuit against union leadership regarding Gates’ years-long refusal to publish audited financial statements. The judge in that case has repeatedly denied the union’s attempts to dismiss it. Teachers opposed to these changes have been circulating this flier, urging members to vote no. What will CTU members get in return for millions of dollars in additional dues? If the 2024 school board elections are any indication—not much. CTU leadership’s record on school board races may not inspire confidence among members. A Chicago Policy Center analysis of a dozen affiliated PACs found CTU spent nearly $2.9 million on school board races in 2024. Of that spending, more than $2.1 million (75%) went to losing candidates. And while CTU-backed candidates lost six of the nine competitive seats overall, they fared worse in their biggest-spending races, losing five of six contests in which the union and its affiliates put up more than $250,000 for their candidate. The Chicago school board elections take place Nov. 3.3 Is another $8.5 million enough to clean up a toxic reputation? Not likely. Update on federal tax credit scholarship: Last week, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program. If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker follows suit, Illinois could unlock $1 billion in donor money statewide for both public- and private-school students. If Illinois does not opt in, that money will flow to other states. The Last Ward reported in February on how Illinois Democrats could unlock at least $100 million in new resources for Chicago public-school students by opting in. Update on the investigation into how Chicagoans learned about a meeting to hike their property taxes: The Last Ward reported in January on an absurd, taxpayer-funded investigation into how local media learned of a planned Chicago school board meeting to hike the district’s property tax levy. That investigation is now complete. Lawyers interviewed two dozen witnesses, and found nothing. Update on Illinois’ muni debt crisis: My colleague Joe Tabor last week published a must-read piece in Crain’s Chicago Business about how Illinois recently rejected south suburban Harvey’s request to be designated a “distressed city.” The saga shows why the state must implement a better structure to assist insolvent local governments, including allowing for the option to pursue debt relief via Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The Last Ward reported in October on how Harvey is tipping the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis. Mincing Rascals: I joined the Mincing Rascals podcast to discuss the SAFE-T Act, the millionaires tax, and more. My “green light” recommendation: Force Majeure (2014). 1 Notably, the No. 2 reason cited is “resources to fund a state-wide millionaires tax campaign in order to fully fund the state’s school funding formula.” The constitutional amendment necessary to implement a progressive income tax in Illinois recently died in the Illinois House, meaning this question would not appear on the ballot until 2028 at the earliest. 2 There is seemingly no single-subject rule for CTU constitutional amendments. So members only get one vote on the full package. One cannot vote “yes” on the dues hike and “no” on the restriction of members’ rights, for example. 3 Illinois law grants far too much power over local government to unelected officials like Gates. State lawmakers should fix that.
Readers respond: Put kids, not politics, first in education
Letters to the Editor can be submitted to letters@oregonian.com with full name and place of residence.
Trump's college sports committee tackles laundry list of issues and calls on Congress to act quickly
The presidential committee asked to find solutions for spiraling costs in college sports recommended creating a task force to look at pooling media rights, limiting coaches salaries, and rewriting eligibility and transfer-portal rules, along with at least a dozen other ideas. A draft document of the committee's proposals, obtained by Yahoo Sports, wants Congress to quickly pass legislation that would create the task force, which would receive the antitrust exemption and the right to override individual state laws that the NCAA and other collegiate sports leaders are seeking.
Sen. John Fetterman — again — says he won’t leave the Democratic Party in late-night interview
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he's a "committed Democrat" during a late-night talk show interview Friday. His comments followed renewed speculation of a party switch.
Mitt Romney returns to political fundraising, backs Susan Collins at Salt Lake City event
Former Massachusetts governor and Utah Senator Mitt Romney made his first foray back into national politics since retiring.
How China May Have Sought to Recruit a House Aide to Spy on the U.S.
A staff member on the House China Committee was promised $10,000 for U.S. policy insights, on issues like Venezuela and rare-earth minerals.
Player Availability Report: #PORvSKC
Player Availability Report is SportingKC.com’s look at the latest status updates around the team ahead of upcoming matches and is presented by Saint Luke’s. All details listed are from the league’s official Player Status Report that is submitted the day prior to the match. Sporting Kansas City hits the road
Ayotte wades into wraparound mental health services debate
After a New Hampshire House committee voted to kick the can down the road on whether to compel insurance companies to cover wraparound mental health services for children, Gov. Kelly Ayotte was “outraged.”
Mitt Romney makes his quiet return to national politics
Since retiring in early 2025, Mitt Romney avoided national politics — until his old friend Susan Collins needed help.
Fact-check: Sanders says 15 million lost health insurance because of Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'
"As a result of the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' 15 million Americans have been thrown off the healthcare that they need," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said during a committee hearing that included testimony by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Reno tests cutting red tape for live entertainment downtown, Midtown
A pilot program will cut the permitting process for new businesses in Midtown and downtown offering indoor live entertainment.
‘It’s Yelling, Be Honest’ — How This Couple Divorced, But Still Grew Their Business to 16 Locations and $1.4 Million In Revenue
They treat their business as a “third child” that they are both committed to.
Funding crisis in Argentina sparks new wave of protests
Two years after the country’s research funding collapsed, scientists are demonstrating against the government’s failure to restore previously cut scholarships and increase salaries as required by a 2025 law.
Bay Area Host Committee Launches Local Business Marketplace to Strengthen Regional Economy — Bay Area Host Committee
New Interactive Marketplace Connects Local Vendors with Event Procurement Opportunities, Supported by BAHC Foundation Donors such as Visa and PG&E Corporation Foundation Mountain View, CA (May 8, 2026) — The Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) today announced the laun
Kansas State transfer guard Abdi Bashir Jr. commits to LSU
Kansas State transfer guard Abdi Bashir Jr. has committed to LSU, On3’s Joe Tipton reports. LSU will mark Bashir Jr.’s third program in four seasons. He was the No. 125 ranked player in On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings. Bashir Jr. played his first two collegiate seasons at Monmouth (2023-2025), and spent last season at Kansas State. […]
Sally Field reveals role she's always turned down: 'Doesn't appeal to me'
Sally Field has revealed the role she's always turned down throughout her career: 'Didn't like it then, and it doesn't appeal to me now,' the Oscar winner admitted.
Xbox Needs To 'Sweat Every Detail' In Winning Over 'Frustrated' Players, Says Asha Sharma
She's certainly committed to the cause
This Ohio business makes the referee stripes seen on courts across the country
Smitty Officials Apparel in Canton helps sports officials make calls with style.
Fact-check: Sanders says 15 million lost health insurance because of Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'
"As a result of the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' 15 million Americans have been thrown off the healthcare that they need," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said during a committee hearing that included testimony by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
ICYMI: Rep. Smucker in York Daily Record: From Main Street to family farms, small businesses power region
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Rep. Smucker (PA-11), Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee and senior member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, published an op-ed in recognition of Small Business Week in the York Daily Record, highlighting the ways small businesses bolster our economy.