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Postal Service Internal Watchdog Opens Inquiry After Whistle-Blower’s Complaint
The Trump administration’s effort to screen mail-in ballots for the midterms is facing numerous challenges.
Trump administration undermines health insurance coverage
What we have seen in this administration is a gutting of prevention and public health programs.
15 discouraging hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and 10 brilliant ones with He Who Watches
In the last few weeks, while playing some video games that I might review, I emailed two cries for help. I sent the first to a rep for Capcom, confessing that the company’s samurai game Onimusha Way of the Sword (out today for PC and console) was crushing me. “Feels like I’m playing ‘hard’ mode, not ‘normal,’” I wrote. “And I don’t want to have to knock it down to “story”. I’m exploring, trying to level my gear, but these two-phase boss fights with no mid-fight checkpoints are brutal.” I wagered I was only about halfway through the game, if that. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with the steepening difficulty curve. Was I missing something? Then, on Monday, I took some photos of some puzzles that were baffling me in the mind-bending He Who Watches (out now on PC), wrote out lengthy descriptions of how I’d been trying to solve them and asked Bobby Vanden, the game’s solo developer, for a nudge in the right direction. I told Vanden I’d spent hours on these puzzles. “I’m stuck in triplicate,” I told him. Could he tell me if the solutions I was attempting were even on the right track? I didn’t mention that the puzzles—coupled with major time pressures from other work—were stressing me out so much that playing the game was giving me headaches. This double dose of panic was unusual. I’m used to managing a workload full of reporting and reviewing, used to a crowded schedule and the need to stay calm amid the bustle. But I was stressed about these games. No one was forcing me to review them, nor even play them. I’d simply found them interesting enough to start, hoped they’d be interesting enough to write about and I’d sunk hours into them assuming I’d made the right call. Suddenly, however, I felt trapped. I was emailing for a way out. Above: This guy took me about an hour to beat. The feedback I got from Capcom confirmed my fears. They didn’t say it, but I will: Onimusha Way of the Sword is not for me. It’s a brutally hard game in need of a normal difficulty level. It’s a game that spikes so severely during its abundant boss fights—yet offers such flawed ways to improve when outside of them—that it feels like a bait-and-switch. In the new Onimusha, you play as famed samurai Musashi Miyamoto, aided by a magical soul-absorbing gauntlet that is possessed by a lady who offers advice. (Way of the Sword is a continuation of Capcom’s long-dormant Onimusha series, but that set-up had me wondering if the company was cribbing from their ill-fated Bionic Commando reboot; read about “wife-arm” when you get a chance). Way of the Sword is partially set in 17th century Kyoto, an explorable city where Miyamoto can fight demons, help civilians and eventually rescue ghostly dogs. The city evolves over time, with new mini adventures and obtainable loot on offer, all feeding into systems that promise to upgrade your gear and sword-fighting skills. Upgrades, however, are so incremental as to be imperceptible, causing the exploration of Kyoto to feel like inconsequential busywork. From that hub, players can go on linear missions into forests and old temples, where they will encounter many of the game’s tough bosses. Combat in Way of the Sword is akin to many modern melee games. Players are asked to mix attacks with dodges and parries. They’re encouraged to deplete an enemy’s stamina bar in order to do greater damage to its health bar. The old Onimusha games’ signature move was the issen, a counter-attack so sudden it’s all but pre-emptive. You strike just as they begin to strike toward you, beating them to the cut. By definition, the issen is a high risk move, leaving you wide open to pain. It feels risky in the game, especially against bosses, who can maul you in just a few blows. A game might train you to perform an issen well by offering a variety of lesser enemies who are not as tough as the boss but get close. Or it might offer a toehold against bosses by saving or checkpointing the player’s progress when a boss’ first health bar has been destroyed and before the second health bar appears. It might offer the less skilled player a chance to over-level their character, should the player simply commit to playing through its optional sidequests. Way of the Sword does none of this. Fighting its trivially easy grunt enemies and then its ferociously adept bosses is like playing a game of chess where I’ve got a rook, while the opposing side is all pawns and five queens. Bosses simply don’t checkpoint. You may be able to clear a boss’ first phase without taking much damage. Good for you. Do it again, every time you fail the second phase. As for the the central Kyoto hub, I kept pace with all of its added side activities and never felt like I was overpowered. Bosses could still easily buckle me. The new Onimusha, I concluded, is just too discouraging to keep playing. The advice I got from Capcom had been well-intentioned. They reminded me of the game’s various systems. They alerted me to an optional assist that flashes recommended button inputs (basically: counter this move; dodge that move). It was a little helpful. So was dropping down to “story mode,” which I tried last night. Story mode turns on those button prompts by default. It makes countering and dodging way too easy, nearly automatic. I don’t consider myself a master of action games like these, but I’ve cleared the likes of God of War, Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi and others of sub-Sekiro difficulty and had a fun time doing so. Not here. Not yet. Unless they patch Onimusha: Way of the Sword and add a middle difficulty or just checkpoint the damn bosses when they’re between health bars, my streak of loving Capcom games released in 2026 will likely end at two. It’s a shame, because I was having a good time finding those ghostly dogs. And then there’s He Who Watches, a phenomenal first person puzzle game with Portal vibes, except instead of a portal gun you’ve got a magical bow that shoots one arrow that can activate switches or be used to drag blocks. The twist is an actual twist: you can also walk on walls and the ceiling, reorienting gravity as you do, thereby placing blocks onto those other surfaces. Walking on walls and ceilings to solve problems is really the best thing. Would that I could in reality. He Who Watches consists of locked-room challenges, each brief enough to only require about a minute to actually solving, though it will take five, 10, eventually 30 minutes to figure out said solutions. They are not obvious! It’s a game of layered mechanics and shocking solutions. For example, see if you can follow this: You can drag a block to a wall. Then you can walk on the wall, which now feels like the floor, and drag that block across the wall. Later, back on the floor, you might realize you can look up. The block is still on the wall, stuck to it. You can shoot your magic arrow to its underside. Doing so creates a tether, so that you can yank the block off the wall and carry it, as if it were a balloon, into the spot where you need it to be to solve the puzzle. Here, watch Vanden explain some of the game’s basics in this launch trailer: As with any great puzzle game, the solutions to He Who Watches’ puzzles elicit relief and amazement. Oh my god, that worked! I didn’t even think that could be possible! Learning to solve the game’s puzzles feels like learning magic. But, oh, does the game get hard. Its Steam reviews, mostly glowing, are full of players remarking how quickly He Who Watches made them sweat. Wrote one: “loving this one already although my brain is hurting!” Wrote another: “As you get further in the game it feels like you need an IQ level of at least 120+.” Vanden has shown some mercy. Each locked room puzzle includes an optional junior version of the puzzle, meant to teach you. Difficulty nevertheless ramps severely. By the time I was emailing Vanden for help, I was struggling to even clear one of the hint puzzles. When I messaged him, my stress was exacerbated by strange things I’d found in the game’s various hubs: suspicious passageways, odd blocks and some intriguing locked doors. These were hints of secrets, I realized, yet I sensed I needed to play further into the game to understand them. I was stuck, but I wanted to see the rest. Vanden offered to give me the exact solutions, to solve those three puzzles for me, but first he gave four nudges. Three were for the specific puzzles, but his best hint was for all and ultimately proved to be a terrific life lesson: go back a bit, he suggested. Do the puzzles right before those. They were teaching you something. Focus on what their lesson was. Don’t rush, in other words. Recognize what you’ve accomplished. Build off of that. I did so. I absorbed the lessons. I saw those three tough puzzles in a new light. I solved one the night after he wrote back, another the morning after. I left a third for another time. I didn’t need it and I wanted to plunge deeper into the game, closer to the moment when I was sure I could start unlocking those secret doors. My head stopped hurting, too. He Who Watches feels special. It’s got more challenges, and I’m undeterred. It’s also nice that its puzzles don’t have a surprise second health bar. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: In brief… 🎮 Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of Helsinki-based Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal) has stepped down from his studio, after a 31-year run, saying he’s “ taking a rare and well-deserved breather.” Sony purchased Housemarque in 2021, and the studio released its newest game, Saros, earlier this year. Trend-watch: Sony-owned Insomniac saw its founder Ted Price retire in early 2025, after a 30-year run. Sony-owned Sucker Punch saw its co-founder Brian Fleming step down in late 2025, after a 28-year run. 👀 Savvy Games Group chief Brian Ward is stepping down from the Saudi-government-backed games conglomerate, Bloomberg reports. No word on a long-term successor yet, nor if this augurs any closer integration between Savvy and Electronic Arts. EA was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, in early August. 💿 Square Enix has denied a Japanese media report that the company was planning to go private. In very different Square Enix news, the company revealed that the physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the April 2027 finale of its radical remakes of FFVII, will include just one disc in its case, requiring a download for the rest. The first two FFVII remakes in the trilogy shipped on two discs apiece. While Square hasn’t commented on the reason why, a feature here in Game File last month broke down the processes and costs for physical games. The expense of a second disc comes out of the game publisher’s cut of each copy. Square could be saving in excess of a dollar a copy with this move. 🟥 Grand Theft Auto IV’s 26-minute ’‘extended look” gameplay showcase that premiered on Netflix last week—and was exclusive to the platform for six hours—drew 31.1 million views in its first four days, the streamer announced. (Netflix calculates views as total viewed hours divided by runtime; excludes replays). Compared to YouTube: The version that later premiered on Rockstar Games’ YouTube channel is sitting at 22.6 million views after seven days (YouTube’s more liberal counting system tallies anyone who viewed even just the first few second.) Compared to other Netflix mega-events: Last year, Stranger Things season 5’s first four episodes, which debuted together, drew a record 59.6 million views in their first few days on Netflix. For more of a live event type of comparison, in 2024, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match drew 65 million concurrent streams as it happened; Netflix didn’t release live numbers for the GTA premiere. ☁️ Microsoft is changing the way it charges for cloud gaming, from an all-you-can-play offer for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, to caps for the subscription’s tiers (15 hours per month at the Ultimate tier), with the option to buy more hours in bulk beyond that. The company also said it will sell batches of cloud gaming time to non-Game Pass subscribers, details TBA. Microsoft does not release figures for cloud game usage, but said its changes would impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That implies a small portion of its subscribers exceed the 15-hour monthly mark. Cloud gaming offers the promise of playing games without the need for console or PC hardware, as the graphics, sound and controls are all transmitted via a streaming connection. Microsoft notes that its cloud gaming service can be used for a range of things, including Xbox One players using it to play newer-gen Xbox Series games via streaming; and people playing games via streaming, sans any console, “in markets where consoles are less available or affordable.” (That latter use case could even be relevant in Xbox’s home market soon, as console prices keep rising.) Take Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick recently told investors he expects game-streaming tech, which has been only lightly adopted by gamers for over a decade, to be widely used within three years. 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has published multiple agenda-driven web video games to the White House’s website. One called Build The Wall partially clones Tetris as it asks players to build a wall to stop a “zombie border siege.” While actual Tetris involves clearing lines and basically not building a wall, the Trump-backed game omits the line-clearing aspect (and omits the fun as well). On Instagram, Tetris’ official license holders reacted by stating: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community. P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S.: We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Item 3: The week ahead: Tuesday, September 8 Game releases: Mewgenics (consoles; already out on PC) is an engrossing tactical combat game (with cats). It is getting its console port right after the release of a Star Wars tactics game and ahead of the late September launch of a Fire Emblem–a bumper crop for the genre. Wanderburg (PC) is an auto-shooting game like Vampire Survivors, but you’re a castle on wheels Event: Nintendo airs a 30-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary. A full unveiling of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is expected. Will they also show footage from next year’s live action movie? Tease the next big 3D Zelda? Add Link to Mario Kart World? Shadow-drop a new Tingle game? Wednesday, September 9 Event: Nintendo again! On this day, they’re planning to air a 45-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on games heading to Switch 2 this winter. Followed by about an hour of gameplay demoed by the company’s Treehouse team. The September Nintendo Directs are always some of the year’s biggest. The 2025 edition included announcements of several major 2026 Switch/Switch 2 games: Pokémon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Plus the return of the Virtual Boy. Friday, September 11 Game release: EA Sports NHL 27 (PlayStation, Xbox) is a hockey game. There are so few that an indie studio that had been making wacky sci-fi first-person shooters just announced that, hey, we’re going to fill a void and make a hockey game for PC.
Judge again blocks Trump’s effort to restrict voting by mail as ballots start going out
The move comes as the Trump administration is appealing a related order to the Supreme Court.
Judge Once Again Blocks Trump Administration’s Plans to Restrict Mail-In Ballots
The ruling arrived before the Supreme Court could decide whether to intervene but appeared certain to set off yet another round of appeals.
Federal judge extends block on mail ballot change for midterms
It's another major obstacle for the administration as the first states begin sending out mail ballots
Federal judge extends block on mail ballot change for midterms
It's another major obstacle for the administration as the first states begin sending out mail ballots
Trump moves to allow ranchers and hunters to kill gray wolves
The president ordered his administration to lift Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves, again wading into a fraught debate between ranchers and conservationists.
Texas AG Paxton investigates military healthcare contractor over denied claims
Paxton cited an NBC News investigation into TriWest Healthcare Alliance, one of the contractors that administers the military’s healthcare benefits.
Already Threatened, Rare Wildlife Dealt Blow by Trump Administration Rule Change
Rule changes to the Endangered Species Act by the White House could make survival more difficult for rare wildlife. The Dept. of the Interior and Dept. of Commerce changed the definition of "harm" in the law, allowing industry to encroach on habitats of endangered species
Already Threatened, Rare Wildlife Dealt Blow by Trump Administration Rule Change
Rule changes to the Endangered Species Act by the White House could make survival more difficult for rare wildlife. The Dept. of the Interior and Dept. of Commerce changed the definition of "harm" in the law, allowing industry to encroach on habitats of endangered species
Meloni celebrates her Italian government's longevity during party rally in Bari
BARI, Italy — Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni celebrated her government's milestone longevity at a rally Friday of supporters in the southern city of Bari, arguing that four years of
White House arcade games spark criticism
The Trump administration launched a series of arcade-style games on the official White House website Thursday to tout its priorities — the latest turn in its aggressive online effort to troll Democrats that has at times surfaced racist and offensive images. CNN’s Kit Maher reports.
Guthrie, Oz promote rural health funding in Glasgow visit
GLASGOW — U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz visited T.J. Health Pavilion in Glasgow on Friday morning to meet with […]
Trump says Iran conflict, which has killed 18 US service members and injured hundreds more, is ‘small potatoes’
President Donald Trump on Friday labeled the Iran war “small potatoes,” the latest attempt to minimize a six-month conflict that caused a spike in gas prices and led to the deaths of 18 American service-members.
Trump administration quietly closes criminal probe into Venezuela businessman amid oil deal
For a decade, Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt has been ensnared in the tentacles of a sprawling Justice Department probe into a sophisticated billion-dollar money laundering scheme that US prosecutors allege embezzled funds from Venezuela’s state-owned oil company known as PDVSA.
At least 5 other states join Mass. in covering transgender kids’ health care under Medicaid
The states, including half of New England, vow to cover the care after a new rule from the Trump administration will cut off federal funding for many treatments starting in October.
The Small Business Administration offers advice to businesses hurt by flooding - WHIZ - Fox 5 / Marquee Broadcasting
ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Small Business Administration, or SBA, held an information session for Perry and Muskingum County businesses affected by the August storms and flooding. Around 50 business owners came to EagleSticks Golf Club in Zanesville on Friday morning to learn about how the SBA can help their business recover from recent natural disasters. The Ohio director of the...
Mamdani to modernize NYC emergency planning, designate Sept. 11 day of service
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday that his administration plans to modernize New York City's nearly two-decade-old framework for keeping government
ASUS Shows RTX Spark Mini PCs and Laptop Designs at IFA 2026
At IFA 2026 in Berlin, Germany, ASUS introduced mini PCs and laptops powered by NVIDIA's RTX Spark SoC. Starting with the GR1X mini, ASUS showcased the power of the RTX Spark N1X in grey or black aluminium enclosures. These are available with up to a 6,144-core GeForce RTX "Blackwell" GPU,...
Gloria Steinem Stayed Positive, Even as the Manosphere Took Hold
The feminist icon thought many women would carry on her legacy. But at an unsteady time for feminism, how will the movement carry on?
Google's Gemini Spark can now manage your Google Photos library
Gemini Spark can edit and curate photo albums, create shared collections, turn photos into calendar events, and handle other Google Photos tasks for AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Four Years of Lower Drug Prices: Real Savings, Unfinished Business
The administration is touting these agreements as proof that drug prices are coming down. However, we don’t have the evidence to back that up.
Pascack Valley Medical Center Expands Advanced Women’s Health Services with Addition of Urogynecologist and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon Mamta M. Mamik, M.D., M.Sc., FACOG, FACS
Pascack Valley Medical Center is pleased to welcome Mamta M. Mamik, M.D., M.Sc., FACOG, FACS, a board-certified and highly trained gynecologic surgeon whose expertise spans female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, neuropelveology, endometriosis, fibroids, chronic pelvic pain, and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
Minister MacDonald announces support to advance swine health surveillance in Canada
Canada's pork industry is an economic powerhouse. Recognizing that infectious disease is one of the major risks to swine production, the Government of Canada is helping industry further develop the tools needed to safeguard animal health, strengthen sector resilience, and support future growth.
NH inmates can now earn a business degree from UNH
The program allows incarcerated students to put their associate degree credits toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Kelly Loeffler on small business optimism rising, credit card swipe fees
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler joins Cheryl Casone to discuss the July NFIB small business optimism index rise, credit card swipe fees and the SBA Million Dollar Pitch Competition.
Josh Shapiro’s measles response — and its backlash
The criticism of Gov. Josh Shapiro's handling of measles and his administration's proposed health regulations has a familiar ring six years after COVID-19.
HERA Director-General visits Indonesia to strengthen health cooperation
The Director-General of the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), Dr Florika Fink-Hooijer, met with Indonesia's Minister of Health, H.E. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, in Jakarta on 4 September 2026. Discussions centred on Indonesia's expansion of surveillance capacities, including genomic sequencing as well as local manufacturing capacity. There was a clear commitment to work together on wastewater surveillance going forward. Earlier that day, Director-General Fink-Hooijer, met with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Secretariat to discuss health emergency preparedness and response to emerging health threats, and to explore deeper cooperation between the EU and ASEAN. More info on the meeting at the ASEAN Secretariat: https://link.europa.eu/HdVV7q
Health minister calls meeting on Wales transgender surgery pause
Mabon ap Gwynfor says he respects the decision but has questions for the health board responsible.
The Trump administration halted a Great Lakes project. Then Whitmer called Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — An unexplained Trump administration hold on construction of a state-federal project aimed at preventing invasive carp from reaching the Great
Yohandy Morales Starts Strong in Nationals Mini-Series vs. Braves
Yohandy Morales' debut stands out as the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves split a two-game series.
New York among states targeted in Trump administration voter fraud investigation
DHS says it has identified more than 24,000 potential cases.
What Trump’s new study says about support for trans rights — and why experts are worried
Researchers who study authoritarianism and political violence have major concerns about the study and how the administration plans to use it.
Dreaming Is a Political Act: How Imagination Shapes What Becomes Possible | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
A look at why the social impact sector must invest in the imagination, dreams, and worldbuilding practices of young girls and young feminists.
American College of Radiology opposes changes to radiation safety rules
Released by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in July, the administration is seeking to replace the agency’s longstanding “as low as reasonably achievable” standard.
Three crucial questions facing Farage at Reform conference
Can the Reform UK leader put his policies into action, and become prime minister?
Michael Lombardi resigns as North Carolina football GM amid school investigation
North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi has resigned, ending the tenure of an immediate hire in Bill Belichick’s NFL-to-college coaching transition who had been on on paid administrative leave as the subject of a school investigation.
Behind the Scenes with Kaitlan Collins: Trump administration won’t commit to a timeline in Iran as midterms loom large
Meloni breaks Italy’s post-war political record
Faltering reforms and a growing nationalist right could complicate the prime minister’s path to re-election
Official White House website launches arcade games where users arrest immigrants and build a border wall
The Trump administration launched a series of arcade-style games on the official White House website Thursday to tout its priorities — the latest turn in its aggressive online effort to troll Democrats that has at times surfaced racist and offensive images.
Pablo Torre Sounds Off on the Clippers Ruling, Kawhi Leonard and ESPN — and Teases His Next Big Story
“Pablo Torre Finds Out” host on the NBA’s historic ruling against the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard’s slap on the wrist and ESPN undermining his reporting.
Trump again appeals to Supreme Court on mail voting restrictions as midterms loom
The Trump administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject an order by a federal judge that halts it from implementing a new rule regulating mail ballots, hours after being unable to tell that judge whether the computer system that would govern the entire project was operational yet.
CDL training school says closure by federal officials ‘political’
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration cited graduates of United CDL for not having the requisite English language skills to earn their licenses.
Google Photos Picks Up New Superpower
Gemini Spark, a paid feature for Gemini that allows you to run very complex, multi-step tasks in the background, is getting a big new addition this week. Google Photos is now available to use with...
Monitoring One Health action against antimicrobial resistance in Indonesia
Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and partners, convened a national multisectoral validation meeting for Indonesia’s 2026 TrACSS submission. Representatives from human health, animal health, fisheries, food and agriculture, environment, research institutions and development partners reviewed the country’s progress on AMR, and validated evidence supporting survey responses prior to submission. In the meeting, WHO presented Indonesia’s 2025 TrACSS results and facilitated technical sessions on the 2026 survey structure, rating principles and submission process.
Trump administration plows ahead with groundbreaking for the president’s ‘triumphal arch’
The Trump administration plans to break ground on the president’s “triumphal arch” in the next two weeks, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced on Thursday.
War and Peace: Ari on the gender breakthrough that can save politics
Remembering feminist icon Gloria Steinem. (The Beat's YouTube: https://ms.now/ari)
Reflecting Pool saga continues with another contractor hired to clean the algae
The Trump administration has hired yet another new company to help clean and maintain the Lincoln Reflecting Pool — adding to a months-long saga around the renovation project.
Michael Lombardi out as UNC’s football general manager
Michael Lombardi, a longtime confidant of North Carolina football head coach Bill Belichick, was placed on paid administrative leave in late July. He is no longer with the football program.
Guidelines needed as AI embraced by mental health practices
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are overwhelmingly being used in mental health practices to support administrative tasks, but University of Queensland researchers have found they potentially lack privacy, ...
Judge strikes down Trump administration lawsuit against trans-inclusive sports in California
The Department of Justice had sought to strip California of $44 billion if schools didn’t eject trans girls from girls’ sports teams.
The Trump Administration Halted a Great Lakes Project. Then Whitmer Called Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — An unexplained Trump administration hold on construction of a state-federal project aimed at preventing invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes was abruptly lifted this week, hours after a call to President Donald Trump by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The Army Corps had ...
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow mail-in ballot restrictions
The question of whether President Donald Trump’s restrictions can move forward in time for November’s midterm elections has been the subject of a dizzying legal battle in recent weeks.
Bravo Greater Des Moines grant applications due Sept. 25
Bravo Greater Des Moines is accepting applications for its operating and public art grant programs. The operating grant program provides general operating support to eligible arts, culture and heritage organizations in Greater Des Moines to support administrative expenses and day-to-day costs of running an organization. The public art grant program supports comprehensive public art projects…
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Mail Voting Limits
The justices have been asked to weigh in again on the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict mail voting — this time on whether the plans violate the Constitution.
Trump asks Supreme Court to OK sweeping changes for mail ballots
President Donald Trump’s administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to give the US Postal Service sweeping power to withhold delivery of mail ballots, setting up an extraordinary showdown over voting at the high court less than two months before the November midterm election.
Gloversville politician arrested, accused of assault
Hernigle remains on paid administrative leave with the Gloversville police, according to Cpt. Bradley Schaffer, an agency spokesperson.
Penobscot Community Health Care announces consolidation and layoffs amid financial challenges
Penobscot Community Health Care says it's closing its Adult Wellness Center in Bangor in November and will transition patients to other locations. It's also eliminating 16 administrative positions, though 11 employees will transfer to new roles.
Luminis Health Cyberattack Reported; Investigation Ongoing
Suspect your information could have been exposed in the Luminis Health cyberattack? Learn more about the incident.
AP Was There: In 1970, Gloria Steinem was a journalist, a feminist and a member of the glitterati
In April 1970, Gloria Steinem invited Lynn Sherr, who was then an Associated Press feature writer, into her Manhattan home.
Petersburg Medical Center to receive federal grants to expand telehealth, maternal health, and behavioral health programs
The Petersburg Medical Center is positioned to receive more than a million dollars between three Rural Health Transformation Program grants. Administrators say they are projects that are ready to hit the ground running.
Gloria Steinem in Her Own Words on Women's Rights, Abortion Politics and Being Called the B-Word
In interviews and emails, Gloria Steinem shared with Associated Press reporters over the years her thoughts on social changes she had witnessed as a leading voice for women, the importance of abortion rights and the correct way to respond when being called the B-word. The author and feminist icon ...
Coins, cards and buildings: Where the government has Trump’s name and face
President Donald Trump’s administration has put his name on more than a dozen buildings, documents, government items and programs during his second term.
Nvidia’s new RTX Spark laptops launch in October with two different configs
Nvidia’s N1X laptop will ship in two different configurations for laptops and mini PCs.
Why we’re suing to release small business funds Congress already approved
Two small business support organization leaders filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to compel the release of hundreds of millions of dollars in congressional appropriations for the Com…
Florida wants colleges out of politics, but its plan has a loophole
Florida wants public colleges out of politics. But a loophole in its neutrality plan could give administrators a new license to speak out.
Trump administration ratchets up fight to get more oil flowing from California
California has some working offshore rigs
Lego's Near 1:1 PlayStation Set Launches On October 1
The detailed Lego replica of the first PlayStation console also features two miniature dioramas of classic PlayStation games.
Judge rejects Trump administration's plan to break up Google's ad business
Punishing a company for building the best product doesn't serve the businesses or users antitrust enforcers claim to protect.
Feminist icon Gloria Steinem dies at 92
Steinem was a celebrated author and activist who became one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women’s movement and a fierce advocate for feminist causes throughout her life.
My unsung hero of science: Harriet Taylor Mill, the radical feminist philosopher who lived in the shadow of her husband
Taylor Mill cut to the heart of issues in political thought such as patriarchy, socio-economic justice and freedom.
Student explores link between social media use and mental health in youth
The American Psychological Association estimates that teens are spending an average of five hours a day on social media. At Kennesaw State University, one student is examining whether this prolonged use can also impact their mental health. Through KSU’s First-Year Scholars Program, Chance Lundy, a Keeping Sights Upward Journey Honors College student, studied the relationship between frequent social media use and suicidal ideation among adolescents.
The Politics of the Boundary Waters: Volume One
The Politics of the Boundary Waters: Volume One Mining near the Boundary Waters is in the political spotlight this month as a pair of political forums take place in Ely. The first took place Wednesday, Sept. 2 on the college campus in Ely. It featured state Sen. Grant Hauschild and Republican challenger Andrea Zupancich, a […]
Trump administration says agencies may stop working with the Smithsonian
The Trump administration has suggested federal agencies may stop working with the Smithsonian Institution if its leadership does not change, ramping up a monthslong pressure campaign to align the world’s largest museum complex with its views.
Ravens’ 53-man roster by acquisition: Draft picks, signings, trades
Examining how the Ravens acquired every player on their initial 53-man roster.
Nuclear power drive boosts southwestern uranium mills — and tribal health concerns
The Havasupai, Ute Mountain Ute tribes worry that a Utah uranium mill may foul groundwater as Trump administration boosts nuclear energy.
Beyond Finger Pointing: The Fight to Lower Health Care Costs
In a live conversation recorded at Aspen Ideas: Health, executives from a hospital, insurer and pharmacy join a top Trump administration official and leading health economist to discuss how to collectively bring down health care costs.
Can Andy Burnham transform British politics?
The new British prime minister promises a more interventionist and decentralized state, but there are forces at play that could prevent a fundamental reset.
As election looms, Netanyahu turns his focus to his divided base
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks reelection, his main concern these days isn’t his political rivals. It’s some of his biggest supporters.
With his eye on reelection, Israel's Netanyahu turns his focus to his divided base
As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks reelection, his main concern these days isn’t his political rivals | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
City council approves new lakefront entertainment district
The Lake Charles City Council unanimously approved a new entertainment district for the city’s lakefront that will include 10 restaurants, a mini amphitheater and outdoor recreation space near North Beach.
Letter to the Editor
The University of Alabama continues to invite political interference into the work of UA. After the passage of House Bill 580 in April, University administration has rolled out voluntary compliance to this bill. It is voluntary because UA was explicitly exempt from this bill. The new policies require redundant and more time-intensive post-tenure reviews. New...
Burnham to tackle 'mega-donors' in UK politics, minister says
Some MPs have pressed for the government to introduce a cap on UK-based donors.
Trump administration threatens to cut off agencies’ ties to Smithsonian
Echoing White House attacks, an Interior Department letter threatened the institution “under current leadership” with loss of support for sourcing artifacts and more.
Acer Builds Small Desktops for Local AI Agents
Acer showed two compact AI desktops: one built on Nvidia's RTX Spark superchip, the other on Intel Core Ultra processors.
Luminis Health impacted by cybersecurity incident
Judge Rejects DOJ Request to Break Up Google’s Ad Business | What’s News for Sept. 2
Plus, the Trump administration backs OpenAI in a copyright suit and our inside look at an uber rich divorce
Fort Bragg Veteran celebrates expansion of high-end experiential entertainment brand
Photo provided by EscapologyAfter 15 years as an Army officer at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville resident Dan Cooke transitioned to business ownership to bring high-end experiential entertainment to North Carolina, applying strict military operational systems to scale his footprint across the state.Cooke got his start in the Army’s Boots to Business program.“Boots to Business was instrumental in preparing me to start a company. The program taught me how to develop a business plan, conduct market and financial analysis and critically evaluate whether a business concept was actually viable,” shared Cooke. “What made the program particularly valuable was that the instructors and mentors had real-world business experience…At the end of the course, I had to present and defend that plan. From there, they directed me to SCORE, where mentors helped me further refine the plan. I eventually presented it to a bank, which was impressed with the level of preparation, and I secured the financing necessary to build the business.”As Cooke neared the end of his military career, he began to wonder what would come next. Through his faith and some valuable mentors, he found the right avenue for his entrepreneurial interests.“While working on my instrument pilot rating, my flight instructor happened to tell me about escape rooms and the economics behind building them. He thought they could make for an interesting business. I took the analytical skills I had developed in the military, along with what I learned through Boots to Business, and began comparing the escape-room model against other opportunities I was considering,” explained Cooke. Cooke opened his first Escapology location in Fayetteville in 2019.“My approach was to start small and prove the model. Fayetteville made sense because I was already there, understood the market and could minimize my initial risk. It also became clear very quickly that I needed a partner that could provide the creative design, branding and industry knowledge that I did not have. After researching a number of options, Escapology became that partner,” added Cooke.Following the success of his initial venue in Fayetteville and a venue in Charlotte that opened in 2023, Cooke recently expanded into Raleigh with his third Escapology venue at Crabtree Valley Mall.His North Carolina footprint now includes:Fayetteville: A 5-room venue launched right after his Army transition in 2019.Charlotte: A 10-room venue opened in 2023, doubling his original operational footprint.Raleigh (Crabtree Valley Mall): A 6-room venue opened in May 2026, with plans to expand to 10 full rooms.Beyond his venues, Cooke expanded his local footprint by launching Jade Solutions in Aberdeen, N.C., an OEM manufacturing business that now builds prop and technical solutions for Escapology venues systemwide.Cooke shared that his long-term goal is to continue expanding Escapology in a healthy and sustainable way while enjoying the journey. “I actually did not start an entertainment business because I personally loved escape rooms. I started a business because I love the game of business itself. Growing up, I loved military simulation games and business tycoon games. I eventually had the opportunity to experience the first of those in the real world — I went to war, led troops and played my part in the military. Today, I would much rather apply that same drive to the real-world game of building businesses.I don't play business computer games anymore. I get to wake up and do it for real every day,” shared Cooke.
Maryland's Luminis Health says some systems are unavailable after cybersecurity attack
Luminis Health, which serves patients on Maryland's Eastern Shore and in Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties, has been hit with a cybersecurity attack.
Trump Administration Launches Blitz to Find Elusive Voter Fraud Ahead of Midterms
The practice is exceedingly rare, but President Trump has fixated on rooting it out this year, claiming without evidence that tens of thousands of noncitizens are registered to vote.
Top U.S. doctors offer updated flu and COVID vaccine recommendations, aiming to ease confusion
Leading U.S. medical groups are urging people to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, banding together Wednesday to issue shot guidelines — and highlight the science behind them — saying they hope to ease confusion caused by the Trump administration's changing advice.
MrBeast will try to survive ‘the planet’s most unforgiving landscapes’ using Gemini and Fitbit Air in deal with Google
Google has struck a deal with MrBeast, the most popular YouTuber, to promote Gemini and Google Health, with one of...
Court dismisses Trump administration's sanctuary city lawsuit against Rochester
This is the second time a DOJ lawsuit against Rochester's sanctuary city policies has been thrown out.
Google is sending MrBeast into the wilderness, armed with AI
MrBeast’s videos are about to feature a lot more Gemini.
‘Harry Potter’ trailer reveals Quirrell first look, Sorting Hat, and more book moments
HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ television adaptation has released a new teaser trailer filled to the brim with book moments, including the first look at Professor Quirinus Quirrell.
US medical groups urge people to get flu and Covid shots in counter to Trump guidance
Top medical groups band together to ease confusion from Trump administration’s changing immunization advice
Martin Scorsese says Tribeca neighborhood used to be ‘really good for’ stealing hubcaps, sex, and drugs at night (exclusive)
Martin Scorsese reminisces about New York’s crime-ridden Tribeca neighborhood in an exclusive clip from the upcoming documentary ‘Tribeca 25,’ premiering on Netflix Sept. 11.
Martin Scorsese says Tribeca neighborhood used to be ‘really good for’ stealing hubcaps, sex, and drugs at night (exclusive)
Scorsese reminisces about the New York hotspot with Robert De Niro in the new documentary “Tribeca 25,” premiering on Netflix on Sept. 11.
Apple's New Mac Mini Already Discounted - See the Pre-Order Deals
Amazon has introduced the first cash discounts on Apple's brand new Mac mini, with discounts including two of the M6 models as well as the M5 Pro model. All of these deals are pre-order discounts on the 2026 Mac mini, which officially launches on September 22. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.