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Bipartisan senators announce agreement with Trump administration on Russia sanctions
Bipartisan senators announced an agreement with the Trump administration on Friday to move ahead with an updated Russia sanctions package, but it remains unclear if President Donald Trump will directly back the bill’s passage.
For NC State Health Plan members, Blue Cross NC is back in 2028
Blue Cross NC served as the State Health Plan's third party administrator for 40 years until then-Treasurer Dale Folwell sought a change. Beginning in 2028, Blue Cross will again have that role.
SCORE Welcomes Four New Board Members to Advance Small Business Success
/PRNewswire/ -- SCORE, the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration...
SCORE Welcomes Four New Board Members to Advance Small Business Success
SCORE, the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its board of directors.
Trump Administration Taps Climate Science Critic to Oversee National Climate Assessment
Matthew M. Wielicki has criticized the scientific consensus on global warming as alarmist. Now he’ll oversee a major federal report on the topic.
Lee Zeldin pushes back on long-range climate predictions, 'science denier' label
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin argued climate projections should be viewed as a range of possible outcomes and said disagreeing with long-term forecasts should not be viewed as science denial. (Credit: Nicholas Ballasy for Fox News Digital)
NC’s State Health Plan switching who administers its members’ benefits, again
The State Health Plan announced who won its health and pharmacy benefits contracts.
Trump ousts last members of election assistance panel
The administration forced out the three remaining members of a bipartisan commission that supports states in elections
Mamdani official's planned meeting with Iran envoy shut down by State Department
A Mamdani administration official planned to meet Iran's UN ambassador before the State Department intervened and canceled the diplomatic encounter.
Health Innovations for the Restaurant Industry
Explore how CBIZ helped a restaurant identify, design, implement, and administer a revised health and benefits strategy.
MAGA's attack on science is even worse than it looks
In my post on America’s 250-year anniversary, I argued that respect for the individual was the “secret sauce” in the U.S.’ long-lasting preeminence among nations. But it was certainly not the only factor. There were plenty of institutional innovations that helped the U.S. stay on top — economically, militarily, and in terms of the attractiveness of its society. One of these was American science. Today we take things like the modern research university, government grants for science, public-to-private research spinoffs, etc. for granted, but a lot of that infrastructure wasn’t there before World War 2. It was either invented or scaled up massively by the U.S. government in the postwar period, led by far-sighted scientist-bureaucrats like Vannevar Bush (pictured above). If you want to read about this history, a good place to start would be Jonathan Gruber and Simon Johnson’s excellent book Jump-Starting America. Those scientific institutions didn’t exist in a vacuum, however. They were backed by the U.S. government’s abiding faith in the power of science — and, even more fundamentally, by deep popular trust in the scientific enterprise. Science gave us radar and the atom bomb in wartime, and in peacetime it gave us plastics, vaccines, cheap food, and a thousand other things that made our lives easier. Science was also the driver behind American industry — chemicals, aerospace, telecommunications, computers, electronics, and so on. We owed science our jobs, our livelihoods, our comfortable living standards, and our greatness and power as a nation. It’s little wonder that both political parties, even as they fought viciously over other issues, were steadfast in their support of science. For a long time, the only people who distrusted science were a hippie fringe on the left who disliked modernity (or thought they did, anyway), who also disliked American industry and American power, and who subscribed to an early version of degrowth environmentalism. America’s scientific enterprise is still strong, especially compared to the systems in Europe, Japan, Korea, and other developed countries. It has lost a lot of ground to China in a relative sense, but a lot of that is because of China’s incredible growth; as China has poured untold amounts of money and talent into its research labs, spending and output have overtaken the U.S. by some measures. There are a few ways in which China’s rise creates problems for American science — for example, top scientists can choose to work in China instead of in the U.S. — and of course there’s the concern that China’s technological strength will help its military to reign supreme. But overall, China’s rise in science should be good for American science, since American scientists can use Chinese discoveries for free and build on them. The much bigger problem is that the scientific enterprise America built during and after World War 2 is now being threatened with absolute decline. The biggest problem, of course, is that much of the country — the Republican half — has basically lost faith in the scientific enterprise. To what degree this loss of faith is justified is an open question, and deserves to be discussed openly. But the larger point — that the system that powered American dominance is under threat — is true either way. Most Americans still trust science, but MAGA Republicans don’t There’s a myth, popular in right-wing circles, that scientists have lost the trust of regular Americans — either due to the increasingly left-wing composition of academic departments, or to misbehavior during Covid, or to DEI-related research taking over science, etc. This also fits with a wider narrative that Americans are losing trust in all of our institutions. But it just isn’t true. Poll after poll shows that on the whole, Americans still trust scientists and want to spend more on science. For example, here’s a Pew poll from late 2025 showing that although about a fifth of Republicans did lose confidence in science in 2020, two thirds still have at least “a fair amount” of confidence: That same poll found that scientists are among America’s most trusted groups — even better trusted than the military! In fact, Americans trust scientists more than people in most other countries do. Other polls show that although Republican trust in science has dropped somewhat, Republican support for spending more on science remains very strong: A Pew poll in 2023 found the exact same thing: So when MAGA types tell you about scientists losing their credibility, or a drop in trust in science, they’re only talking about themselves. Whatever left-wing politicization of science happened during the Biden administration — and there was definitely some of that — it was not enough to make most Republicans lose faith in the scientific enterprise, or favor research cuts in order to purge unwanted ideology from the system. That doesn’t mean I think progressives should continue down the path of politicizing scientific research. They should not, and Biden made real missteps in this area. Objectivity clearly matters for public trust of science in the long term. But as of right now, there’s no crisis of trust in science, except among the smallish minority of people who are running around screaming that there’s a crisis of trust in science. But despite science’s overwhelming popularity and public trust, Trump and his administration are launching an unprecedented and devastating attack on American science — cutting funding, and forcing science projects to undergo ideological review by government commissars. Trump’s comprehensive attack on science
OMB’s plan to increase political control of science faces stiff opposition on Capitol Hill
The Trump administration has a fight on its hands as it pushes forward with a plan to exert greater political control over government funding of science. To access this subscriber-only content please log in or subscribe.If your institution has a site license, log in with IP-login or register for a sponsored account.**Not all site licenses […]
Alaska governor vetoes new limits on political donations
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have reimposed limits on the amount of money that individual people can donate to political candidates. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Alaska’s prior limits in 2021, and the Dunleavy administration declined to appeal the decision. Alaska has been without limits on […]
EPA promised a Make America Healthy Again agenda. It has yet to materialize, frustrating activists
After Make America Healthy Again activists drew up a petition to get him fired, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin pledged to release a formal agenda of MAHA priorities his agency would pursue.
Bombing Iran, Then a Tentative Accord Didn’t Work. Does Trump Have a Plan C?
The administration appears to be reverting to an all-stick, no-carrot approach. But it has yet to answer why it believes economic warfare and bombing will yield a different result this time.
Trump Terminates Election Assistance Commission Members
By Bo Erickson and Erin Banco WASHINGTON, July 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday terminated the members of the Election Assistance Commission, the independent, federal commission that assists election administration officials nationwide, according to one person familiar with ...
Gov. Whitmer announces Michigan ranked #6 in best states for doing business
LANSING – On Thursday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer celebrated Michigan’s No. 6 ranking from CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business, earning a Top 10 ranking for a fifth time under Governor Whitmer’s leadership and representing a massive leap from No. 24 at the start of her administration in 2019. “Michigan is a place where everyone can […]
USDA lowers beef export sales by 90% amid growing doubts over data
The U.S. Department of Agriculture dramatically lowered its reported beef export sales for late June on Thursday, sparking fresh concerns about the quality of the agency's data after staffing losses as part of the Trump administration's reshaping of the federal government.
Proposed rule could gut American science, Penn researcher warns
The Trump administration is seeking not only to cut research funding, but to give political appointees veto power over how and what kinds of scientific study are permissible.
Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans for wind, drought damage
Residents affected by the storms in Idaho County and Shoshone County are eligible for fixed-rate, low-interest loans from the SBA.
Will federal changes to research funding promote ‘accountability’ or politicize science?
A retired Brown University professor says the Trump administration is weakening a system that relies on subject-matter experts to judge scientific merit.
Trump to seek Supreme Court rehearing on birthright citizenship
President Donald Trump said he would ask the Supreme Court to rehear a case over birthright citizenship, a longshot bid to undo a ruling that went against his administration.
Trump Administration Removes, Then Restores, Ocean Science Instruments
PROVINCETOWN — After the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the “Saving the OOI Act” on June 17, the Trump administration backed off its plan to dismantle a $386-million ocean monitoring system […]
West Orange School Business Administrator on Paid Leave After $13.5M Deficit
The West Orange school business administrator has been placed on paid administrative leave, district officials confirmed in response to a public records request from Montclair Local.
New rule allows small businesses to double borrowing limit, access up to $10M in financing
Blossoming small businesses in the Beehive State and across the nation are set for a financing boost through a new rule from the U.S. Small Business Administration that went into effect July 4.
WMass business leaders call for return of local SBA office
A coalition of local business groups sent a letter to Small Business Administration urging the re-opening of a Springfield branch office
Secretary Kennedy, Administrator Oz Launch ‘Make Hospital Food Healthier’ Pledge
HHS launched the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge, a nationwide initiative inviting hospitals to serve healthier, more nutritious meals.
Buffalo’s finance commissioner will resign next month
Jessica Brown, the city's commissioner of administration and finance, has submitted her resignation, which will go into effect on August 4.
Exclusive: Trump admin presses hospitals on healthier food
The "Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge" encourages hospitals to reduce highly processed foods
Trump administration pursues more durable changes to science policy after setbacks in court
The White House has proposed sweeping changes to the bedrock regulation undergirding all federal contracts, empowering the executive branch to direct research, terminate grants, and external scientific reviews.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced playable build leaks before release date
With the Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced release date on July 9th, some pirates are already setting sail. A playable build is spreading, unlocking secrets not divulged in Ubisoft’s trailers. The Denuvo game is the latest in a series of targets to have its DRM bypassed.
Reflecting Pool being drained – again – as Trump administration tries once more to fix landmark
Crews began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Sunday, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, for the second time in three months.
How Trump Accounts Platform reshape small business finance
I understand the immense effort required to run a business—long hours, complex supply chains, and personal sacrifices for employees and children. That’s why the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is partnering with you to ensure your hard work leads to lasting stability, supporting our region’s families by providing immediate financial relief and long-term wealth building […]
50% PlayStation Plus discounts offered to fans canceling over end of physical games
Facing criticism over a shift to digital games, Sony has made an overture to discontented supporters. Gamers threatening to cancel subscriptions may receive a PlayStation Plus price cut. Some PS Plus Extra and Premium members have secured 3-12 months of service at steep discounts.
Trump weighed in on Cabinet squabble over ride for July Fourth flyover
The president encouraged acting attorney general Todd Blanche to fly on one of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s jets despite the FAA’s prior objection to the planes.
VA’s top health administrator departs post, temporary replacement named
Dr. Lee Payne, a retired Air Force major general and physician, will serve as acting under secretary, according to VA officials.
Trump admin reimposes oil sanctions after Iran strikes ships near Strait of Hormuz
The Trump administration is reimposing sanctions on Iranian oil sales in retaliation for a series of attacks on commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
The Politics of Provocation: The ECtHR’s Ruling in Miladze v Georgia
A recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights concerning a TikTok video published by a Georgian self-defined civil activist adds another layer to the Court’s increasingly messy Article 10 case law. The applicant repeatedly insulted public officials in crude and sexually explicit terms while broadcasting to a large online audience. Domestic courts imposed only a modest administrative fine, later reduced on appeal. The ECtHR did not find a violation of the applicant’s right to freedom of expression – raising several questions about the limits of legitimate political speech online.
Trump admin falsely accuses Smithsonian of 'extreme political activism'
Unbiased Politics News
Envisioning Federal Scientific Integrity as a Tool to Protect Democracy and Fight Corruption
How can we preserve scientific integrity policies in the next administration when they've proven to be subject to political whims?
Science review panel finds CIRES delivers exceptional value to NOAA and the nation
Reviewers concluded that CIRES consistently exceeds its goals and significantly enhances NOAA's scientific and operational capabilities.
The plan to make climate science harder to erase
This story was originally published by Grist. When Rebecca Lindsey was fired from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last February, the first thing she did was stew. Then she worried about what was going to happen to the website she and her team had built over the last decade and a half. Lindsey had […]
Minnesota K-12 health standards’ future unclear after administrative judge objects
Officials expected to phase in the state’s first-ever statewide school benchmarks on topics from nutrition and first aid to sex abuse prevention through 2028. That timeline is in jeopardy now after an administrative law judge ripped the state’s process to implement the standards.
US-Africa health deals: Why some nations are turning down Trump's money
The Trump administration sees the aid as more transactional - but some say it is not a fair trade.
New Iowa Medicaid fraud task force draws questions from retired health administrator
A retired health care administrator is questioning Gov. Kim Reynolds’ decision to form a new task force aimed at fighting Medicaid fraud, saying the state’s focus overlooks what she sees as a larger problem: health care becoming less affordable.
Exclusive: Trump admin says it has abandoned plans for new Tubman $20 bill
The Trump administration has dropped a 10-year-old plan to put the face of famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, Spectrum News has learned.
Trump administration denies disaster declaration for record R.I. blizzard
The state’s Democratic congressional delegation criticizes President Trump for politicizing disaster aid, telling him, “You chose to leave Rhode Islanders out in the cold.”
HP OmniBook X Flip 14 review: Flexible performance with AMD Zen 5
The new OmniBook X Flip 14 is even more impressive than the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 with more CPU performance, more ports, and a revised keyboard and look. However, most SKUs are limited to just a 60 Hz touchscreen despite the ~$1500 asking price.
New disease threats follow Trump administration's health program cuts
The Trump administration has cut investments in programs and agencies that prevent, track, and respond to health hazards.
Opinion | Trade Uncertainty Is Bad for Business
The Trump administration’s failure to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada pact in its current form is a gift to lobbyists and will discourage investment.
Trump looking 'very strongly' at Australia-style retirement system: 'Taking that, making it sharper'
President Donald Trump says his administration is studying superannuation, a mandatory program requiring employers to contribute 12% into retirement accounts.
White House Blasts Smithsonian History Exhibits For 'Radical' Activism
A new Trump administration report singles out references to 'Hamilton,' drag queens and Mickey Mouse.
Small Business Administration to help USDA sort 'lawfare' reports
John Rich says he’ll publicize cases of farmers being ‘shoved around’ The Small Business Administration agreed to help the USDA investigate complaints from farmers and ranchers who allege being victimized […]
Five Key Moments: Hearing on the Growing Business of Sports
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Ways and Means Committee hearing focused on federal tax policy in the growing business of sports, Republican...
Five Key Moments: Hearing on the Growing Business of Sports
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Ways and Means Committee hearing focused on federal tax policy in the growing business of sports, Republican...
From birdsong to galaxies: Unleashing the potential of citizen science
Everyone could contribute dramatically more to scientific knowledge if given better recognition, administrative support and funding stability, new research has found. An international collaboration of ...
New state, federal laws bring changes to North Shore Health
State and federal legislation passed in 2025 is beginning to take effect at North Shore Health, according to the latest administrative report from North Shore Health CEO Kimber Wraalstad. One of the measures is Minnesota’s “swing bed” legislation, which Wraalstad worked on with state Sen. Grant Hauschild and state Rep. Roger Skraba. The law allows...
Is testosterone therapy a fix for aging? The Trump administration proposes easing prescription rules
Boosting low levels of the hormone is seen as a possible fix for men’s chronic health problems.
TSU HOF Class of 2026: Johnny "Ballpark" Franks
Throughout the summer months leading up to the Tennessee State University Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet on Aug. 27, Tennessee State Athletics will highlight the members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. This distinguished group of former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors helped shape the proud tradition of Tiger athletics through championship performances, individual achievements and lasting contributions to the university. Their stories reflect the excellence, perseverance and impact that have defined Tennessee State Athletics across generations.
NASA and Small Business Administration partner on funding key space technologies
NASA is partnering with the U.S. Small Business Administration on an effort to attract capital to invest in companies producing critical space components.
Biden-era illegal immigration drove up housing costs, Fed economists find
A Federal Reserve working paper finds unauthorized immigration during the Biden administration drove up home prices by 2.2% and rents by 1.4%.
Trump's administration won't seek new bids to repair the Reflecting Pool
Like President Donald Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said he was 100% sure that vandals caused the damage to the century-old Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
Trump's admin won't seek new bids to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
That's according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who faced new questions on Sunday about the troubled project and the taxpayer money involved.
It’s not clear how California’s education power shift will impact schools this year
After California lawmakers and the governor changed state law so the Department of Education is overseen by the governor instead of the state superintendent, it’s unclear how the move will impact the upcoming school year. "What we hope to see is a streamlining of the administration of public education in California," Assembly Education Chairwoman Assemblymember Darshana Patel, D-San Diego, said in an interview on California Politics 360.Patel helped carry the change through legislation at the state Capitol.
Newsom blames Trump for DOJ probe, but reports say investigation predates his administration
Reports suggest the federal probe into Gavin Newsom's orbit began during the Biden administration, complicating his claims of a Trump-directed attack.
Trump Administration Rolls Back Dozens of Gun Regulations
Critics say the administration is weakening public safety. Proponents say regulations would be where they were before President Joseph R. Biden took office.
SBA administrator says small businesses are the American Dream
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to discusses how small businesses embody the American Dream. She also highlights the transformative power of enterprise while warning against radical socialist agendas.
SBA administrator says small businesses are the American Dream
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to discusses how small businesses embody the American Dream. She also highlights the transformative power of enterprise while warning against radical socialist agendas.
Trump’s Remarkable Losing Streak
The administration has lost at least a dozen election-related cases.
Moon school district, PIAA sued after students barred from sports following family’s move
A mother this week sued Moon Area School District and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, alleging her constitutional rights were violated when district administrators barred her sons from playing school sports after the family moved there from the neighboring Sto-Rox district. The civil rights lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court
Culpeper Police Department
Our business offices and administrative services will be closed today, July 3rd in observance of the 4th of July holiday. We will reopen Monday, July 6th at 8 A.M. As always, our officers remain on...
Top general fired by Trump administration criticizes use of military for political missions
The former top US general whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired last year offered a sharp criticism of the Trump administration in an op-ed published Friday, pointing to its political use of the military, such as deploying troops to clamp down on crime in major cities.
As ACA enrollment falls by millions, Trump administration and policy gurus disagree on why
Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollment has declined by 3 million people. The Trump administration points to fraud controls. Policy experts point to cost.
Trump’s Freedom 250 draws corporate sponsors with business before his administration
Companies with federal interests — including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Oracle — are sponsoring a Trump-aligned effort celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Valve shares official 3D print files to let users build their own Steam Machine e-ink faceplate
The e-ink faceplate was first shown off alongside the Steam hardware announcement last year, and Valve has now shared the files and instructions for those who want to make one on their own.
Oregon merges psychedelic mushroom, medical marijuana regulators, proposes fee hike
The Oregon Health Authority is making administrative and personnel changes to its psychedelic mushroom and marijuana services, citing “budget shortfalls.”
SBA, USDA Sign MOU to Combat Lawfare Against Farmers, Ranchers, and Small Businesses
New Partnership Gives Producers a Direct Line to Report Costly Regulations and Advance Lasting ReformWASHINGTON, July 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to combat lawfare targeting farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and small businesses. The agreement gives America’s producers a direct line to report the regulations and rules driving up costs and impacting pro
Exclusive: Trump administration plans to boost worksite immigration enforcement after increase in criminal probes
The Trump administration is planning for an increase in worksite enforcement operations, with multiple federal agencies involved in determining how to boost the number of immigration arrests and placate the president’s base, according to five sources familiar with the discussions.
Democrats demand HHS reinstate cancelled teen pregnancy prevention grants
Democrats across both chambers of Congress are demanding the Trump administration reinstate tens of millions of dollars in teen pregnancy prevention (TPP) grants that were suddenly cancelled last w…
D.C. official tells Trump to build his arch somewhere else
The city’s historic preservation officer criticizes the president’s plan to build his towering arch in Memorial Circle, suggests the administration should pick a spot near Nationals Park.
Opinion | Trump administration move poses an existential threat to science
"The new threat can be found in the 412-page proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget," two professors emeriti write. "It seeks to put all federal funding decisions, for science and non-science, in the hands of political appointees with no expertise."
Court Stops USDA From Enforcing Funding Conditions Tied to DEI, Women’s Sports
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts recently blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to withhold funding from states and grant recipients that have not confirmed their compliance with Trump administration policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), “gender ideology,” women’s and girls’ sports, and immigration.
Trump admin proposes rule it says could save Medicare patients $1.1B on drugs
The change would apply to hospitals that serve low-income patients
How a new White House proposal could fundamentally change American science
In this webinar, we discuss the potential impacts of a Trump admin plan to overhaul how federal research grants are awarded and administered.
Trump administration’s $46 billion 'smart wall' races ahead
The wall is under heavy scrutiny for the billions of dollars being dedicated to it when border crossings are at their lowest in decades.
Trump administration’s $46 billion 'smart wall' races ahead
The wall is under heavy scrutiny for the billions of dollars being dedicated to it when border crossings are at their lowest in decades.
Steam Machine alternative with Ryzen 9 available for under $850
Positioned as an alternative to the Steam Machine, the Aoostar GODY is a compact gaming PC now available outside its domestic Chinese market. The system pairs a powerful AMD processor with a dedicated graphics card.
Croatia criticised for ‘unambitious’ changes to 2022 science law
Croatia’s science ministry has been accused of a lack of ambition, and even incompetence, over proposed changes to the country’s 2022 science law. Critics say an opportunity has been missed to fix wider shortcomings in the research and universities system.“This law, like all the previous ones, will not significantly change the current state of science in Croatia,” Vlatko Silobrčić, a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences, told Science Business. “A small shift here and there will not have a significant impact.”The 2022 law introduced multi-year block grant financing of research, based on results, and changes intended to boost employment and career progression for researchers and lecturers. But implementation of the law has been uneven. “It became apparent that certain of its provisions were subject to different interpretations by higher education institutions and scientific institutes,” the science ministry said in its proposal for change. “This caused legal uncertainty in the system, administrative difficulties in implementation and, in certain cases, unequal treatment of teachers, scientists and students.”Most of the proposed amendments deal with technicalities in hiring and promoting staff, such as extending the committee deadlines from 60 to 90 days, or allowing applicants to cite all of their achievements and not only those since their last appointment.Both the ministry and Croatian media highlighted changes that would raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 years and allow part-time students 15 year rather than 10 years to finish their studies.The change to retirement age has been criticised for reinforcing a weakness in the system. According to Matko Marušić, professor emeritus at the University of Split, this will “allow unproductive teachers to advance and work longer, while hindering and discouraging productive ones.”A longtime campaigner for excellence-based meritocracy, he sees little hope in the new legislation. “I am not optimistic that things will improve,” he told Science Business. “As recent changes to the law in Croatia show, the legal framework is becoming increasingly hypocritical and harmful.”For Marušić, who analyses Croatia's university system in a recently published book, the situation is “unfavourable and constantly deteriorating” due to the criteria used for academic advancement.“The key criterion for advancement should be scientific productivity,” he said. “In Croatia [. . .] scientific criteria are increasingly lowered, and ineffective and absurd criteria such as waiting times for promotion and age limits for remaining in a job are promoted.” He would also like to see better criteria for the quality of teaching at universities. “In practice, teaching is not monitored or evaluated,” he said, estimating that up to a third of teaching simply does not take place. “Under the guise of university autonomy and bad laws, universities and faculties are allowed to earn additional money by increasing enrolment quotas that have nothing to do with the needs of the labour market.” Lack of ambitionDora Kršul, a reporter at Telegram.hr who covers science policy in Croatia, finds the rationale for changes “bizarre.” “The ministry responsible for supervising the uniform application of the law is changing the law because it is being implemented unevenly,” she said. “This primarily speaks to the power relationship in the sphere of science and higher education in Croatia, that is, the question arises as to who actually manages this system.”Rather than raising quality, she continued, the changes appear to be designed to help vocational and applied universities who have not been complying with the law.The Independent Union of Research and Higher Education Employees of Croatia said that the changes were “unambitious” and represent a missed opportunity for more important changes. “We think some of the changes are even negative,” it said in its statement on June 25. One of these is introduction of an “assistant” job title that allows people to be hired only for the duration of a project. Related articles: Elections to top science bodies test Croatia’s gender equality in researchSlovakia revises R&D approach to increase focus on competitivenessLatvia pilots citizen engagement in research grant evaluationsThe union’s president, Tvrtko Smital, who was part of the 15-member working group tasked with drafting the changes, told the local media there was a “worrying lack of ambition” in the process, and “lack of competence” in terms of research experience and understanding the problems in the system.“There is no clear will to deal with the problems,” said Smital, an assistant professor of marine and environmental sciences at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb. “It’s a combination of unambitiousness and incompetence,” he went on, expressing his “deep frustration” with the situation. “There is no strategy, no clear thinking, and money is not being spent optimally.”Croatia’s science ministry has not responded to requests for comment.
iPhone Photography Awards Highlight Best Images of 2026
For the last 19 years, the iPhone Photography Awards (IPPA) has selected the best photographs captured with an iPhone, and the 2026 award winners were announced today. The IPPA 2026 Grand Prize image features a volcano dramatically erupting in the Cayman Islands, with the photo shot by Robyn Jensen on an iPhone 15 Pro. The Gold Prize image by Gellért Gombai features two children napping on grass in the shadow of a badminton racket, with the photo shot in black and white using an iPhone X.
The White House goes all in on aliens with new UAP Science Advisory Council
This new group, which is led by Harvard professor Avi Loeb, aims to advise the Trump administration and the U.S. intelligence community, as well as to publish its findings in peer-reviewed journals
OpenAI proposes 5% stake to Trump administration to ease Washington pressure: report
Trump said in June that the U.S. taking an ownership stake in AI giants would be "a beautiful thing" and make American public "partners in this revolution."
OpenAI proposes handing Trump administration 5% stake, FT reports
OpenAI has discussed giving a 5% stake to the U.S. government, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
Laid off federal scientists keep maps and data visuals online with crowdfunded money
Federal employees axed during waves of cuts by the Trump administration have fought back against the dismantling of a key climate science website.
Arkansas business conditions index rises in June
The broad Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index ticked higher in June despite a rising number of manufacturing job losses, higher prices, and negative impacts from Trump Administration tariff policies....
SC behavioral health agency cuts 47 jobs in administrative overhaul, workers say they had no warning
Nearly 50 people are now without jobs after layoffs within the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Trump's actions signal a move toward institutionalizing people with disabilities, advocates warn
For decades, disabled people have fought for their rights to go to school and live alongside peers without disabilities — rights that some fear could be losing ground under the Trump administration.
Ex-CIA Director John Brennan sues the Trump administration, demanding it preserve records of investigations into him
Former CIA Director John Brennan sued the Trump administration Wednesday, demanding a court order that would require officials to preserve records from investigations that he says are targeting him for “what amounts to phantom criminal conduct.”
Trump administration sues California, Virginia over new gun laws
Attorneys general in both states vowed to defend their gun laws
CHAMP Initiative Combines Climate Science and Storytelling to Address Urban Heat
As summer temperatures climb, so does the risk of extreme heat—now recognized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. In cities such as Camden, where buildings, pavement, and other infrastructure trap heat and create higher temperatures than surrounding areas, understanding the impacts of urban […]