SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Gains " 9,886 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Help veteran-owned small businesses avoid scams during National Veterans Small Business Week
National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) starts in just a few days. A great way to honor veteran small business owners is to help them spot and avoid scams. And if you’re a business owner (veteran or not), your best defense against scammers is an informed workforce. Here’s how you and your team can take part in NVSBW 2026 and learn more.
Firms struggle to insure against climate risks: Barclays
Nearly nine in 10 U.K. businesses in sectors including agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing, housing and transport have struggled to secure climate risk insurance…
How Democrats’ midterm wins reshape Farm Bill politics
Democrats’ sweeping gains in this week’s congressional midterms, driven in part by voter frustration in farm states, give the party new leverage in Farm Bill negotiations, according to farmers and farm advocates.
Florida Gators to make QB change ahead of Oklahoma showdown
The Florida Gators will be making a quarterback change ahead of their SEC showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Week 9 NFL picks against the spread, predictions for every game: Bears have momentum going into Sunday night vs. Buccaneers
Florida’s Jon Sumrall makes QB change for Oklahoma clash
The Florida Gators are set to switch things up at quarterback yet again. Jon Sumrall is expected to start Tramell Jones Jr. over Aaron Philo against the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Jones Jr. took over from Philo after the latter struggled in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs and threw two interceptions. […] The post Florida’s Jon Sumrall makes QB change for Oklahoma clash appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Tuomas Iisalo Praises Olivier-Maxence Prosper’s Energy Against Pacers
Tuomas Iisalo praised Olivier-Maxence Prosper for always being ready and bringing energy after his seven-minute spark against Indiana.
How Russia's War Recruitment Machine Became Big Business
An increasing number of cases point to the human cost of a recruitment system in Russia that increasingly relies on private companies and intermediaries who often work on the fringes to bolster the ranks of a military depleted by the war against Ukraine.
Ueno Bank liquidation triggers Paraguay political turmoil and impeachment move against Peña
The accounting black hole at Ueno Bank is wiping out public funds, leaving thousands without access to their deposits and pushing Paraguay into its worst institutional crisis in years.View on euronews
Patriots Share Mixed Reactions to Tom Brady’s Return
The New England Patriots will have an all-time great return to Gillette Stadium, and head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye have made their feelings known about the occasion.Patriots legend Tom Brady will return to Foxborough on Sunday, Nov. 8, to call New England’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers as FOX’s lead color […] The post Patriots Share Mixed Reactions to Tom Brady’s Return appeared first on HEAVY.
US Department of Justice Intervenes in Health Insurance Whistleblower Lawsuit Brought by Lieff Cabraser Against Centene Corporation
The Lieff Cabraser law firm represents a former employee. NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On October 27, 2026, the United States sued one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies, Centene Corporation, for fraud under the False Claims Act. Lieff Cabraser’s Nashville Office is proud to represent the relator, who brought this matter to the government after internal
Luka Doncic’s 3rd Straight 40-Point Game Sparks Lakers Against Kings to Continue 3-Game Winning Streak
Despite getting off to a slow start by his own standards Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings, the NBA’s leading scorer this season, Luka Doncic, would come alive and lead his team to victory. Facing the injury-ridden and dysfunctional Kings, Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers would shake off a lackluster shooting performance in the …
Confirmed: Devyne Rensch sidelined for 20 days
Bad news for Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma, who will be without Devyne Rensch for the next three weeks. The Dutch full-back, forced off after just a few minutes of the Champions League match against M...
Coleman in 'hybrid role' with Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson says it was "tempting" to include Seamus Coleman in his squad for this month's Nations League matches against Austria and Kosovo despite the defender having not played since June.
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly From Bulls' Blowout Loss To The Knicks
Backup guards sparkled, but a devastating injury to Jalen Smith and disastrous defensive mismatches against Jalen Brunson doomed Chicago to a humiliating blowout defeat at home.
Four Match Points, Another Collapse, and the Frances Tiafoe Problem
Frances Tiafoe was serving for the match at 5-4 in the deciding set against Quentin Halys at the Paris Masters after recovering from a disastrous opening set. He took control of the match and put himself within touching distance of the third round, but then he lost his serve. No matter. He still managed to …
Report: Japan's Tashima to stand against Infantino for FIFA presidency
Kozo Tashima, the honorary president of the Japanese Football Association (JFA), will challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency, according to reports. Infantino’s position appeared under threat after a dropped plan for private investment in the World Cup caused consternation, but he has rallied and now looks to be in a strong position to win a fourth term at FIFA Congress in Morocco next year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers news: Bucs getting ready for Bears
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are battling against the Chicago Bears in Week 9’s edition of Sunday Night Football.
Shedeur Sanders Has Something to Say Amid Browns QB Report
Shedeur Sanders may get another shot to start for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Deshaun Watson is in concussion protocol, leaving the door open for the second-year quarterback to be named the QB1 against the New Orleans Saints. He had something to say about the development and shared it with the media. Sanders entered the […] The post Shedeur Sanders Has Something to Say Amid Browns QB Report appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
Vida Y Salud-Health Systems & Hampton Regional Medical Center Settle Data Breach Lawsuits
Settlements have been agreed to resolve class action data breach lawsuits against Vida Y Salud-Health Systems & Hampton Regional Medical Center. Vida Settlements have been agreed to resolve class action data breach lawsuits against Vida Y Salud-Health Systems & Hampton Regional Medical Center.
Patriots set for measuring-stick opportunity against Packers
The New England Patriots have a big opportunity ahead of themselves against one of the NFC’s top teams this Sunday when they welcome the Green Bay Packers to Gillette Stadium. At 5-3, both teams enter Sunday looking to keep pace in competitive divisions while strengthening their respective position in the playoff picture. For the Patriots, […]
Broncos focused on taking care of business against Panthers
The Denver Broncos have a shot to be 7-2 before their bye week if they can topple the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Rare bipartisan idea gains ground: U.S.-Israel tie needs a break
Democrats and Republicans may be deeply split after the midterms, but a growing number agree on one big idea: The era of unquestioned U.S. support for Israel needs to end.
Why Did Pfizer Stop Talking Up This Business?
For questions about this article or underlying research, email help@trefis.com.Pfizer (PFE) stock trades at 2.8 times sales, against 3.2 for the S&P 500. Even at that discount, shareholders need to understand exactly what they are buying, and the company's priorities have changed.
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel doesn’t sound thrilled about catching up with Tom Brady before he calls Packers game
Tom Brady will return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, but this time he won’t be wearing a Patriots uniform. The seven-time Super Bowl champion will be at the stadium as a FOX Sports broadcaster for New England ‘s Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. His return also gives former teammates a chance to reconnect. However, Patriots head coach […] The post Patriots’ Mike Vrabel doesn’t sound thrilled about catching up with Tom Brady before he calls Packers game appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Michigan State’s Alessio Milivojevic questionable for rivalry clash with Wolverines
Michigan football could receive a major boost ahead of its highly anticipated rivalry clash against Michigan State, with Spartans quarterback Alessio Milivojevic listed as questionable for the matchup. College football insider Pete Thamel reported that the Spartans could potentially be without their starting quarterback for Saturday’s crucial […] The post Michigan State’s Alessio Milivojevic questionable for rivalry clash with Wolverines appeared first on ClutchPoints.
How Democrats’ Big Win Could Reshape Health Care
Democrats scored huge margins in Congress and made big gains at the state level. What does it mean for health policy in the final two years of the Trump administration and beyond?
AI threats challenge cybersecurity landscape
Artificial intelligence is accelerating cybersecurity threats against businesses and government agencies, allowing criminals to potentially impersonate employees, steal sensitive information, and compromise corporate networks faster than organizations can respond, warn some cybersecurity experts.
Imaging Science Thesis Defense: A Step Towards Developing Digital Twins of Forest Environments with Terrestrial Laser Scanning | Events
Imaging Science MS Thesis Defense A Step Towards Developing Digital Twins of Forest Environments with Terrestrial Laser Scanning Zoom Link here Aisha Co Imaging Science MS Candidate Rochester Institute of Technology Abstract: Digital twins have become an increasingly relevant topic as we pursue accurate representations of the real world for planning, research, and even design purposes. This study focuses on the steps for creating digital twins of forest environments using sparse points from terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR). Specifically, we developed geometric models of structural digital twins (SDTs) from leaf-off terrestrial laser scanning of real-world forests. Three algorithms were used to develop an approach to handle individual tree reconstructions for sparse point clouds, and they were tested and validated with a two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic against an existing inventory of the RIT Nature Trail to evaluate the reconstruction’s fidelity. The key evaluation metrics included diameter at breast height (DBH) and height. The limited nature of available ground truth necessitated the use of an additional validation method using a PANGAEA open dataset, based on comparing DBH, height, and crown diameter against the dataset’s calculated measurements. Reconstructions were compared against per-tree reference values at two-point spacings for sixteen trees from the open BR07 dataset (PANGAEA); these specifications matched the collected RIT Nature Trail data and the scanner’s nominal spacing. On BR07, the proposed method had the lowest median DBH error among the methods that modeled every tree (1.28cm, 4.1%), and this error was nearly unchanged at the coarser spacing, while TreeQSM’s rose from 4.2% to 6.5% and AdTree overestimated DBH by 30% to 40%. Results show the proposed method understates the tree heights by 0.2m to 1.4m but contains the least error when estimating DBH. The proposed method was able to produce all 69 trees, while SimpleTree produced 49 and none at the 4.35 cm BR07 spacing. We concluded that the developed geometric model (digital) twins have significant potential to serve as both simulation and prediction tools. We recommend that future efforts focus on collecting per-tree ground truth measurements within the scanned plot and incorporating leaf-on scans. Leaf-on scans include representative foliage, which would add realism to the model and ecological function of the trees. Intended Audience: Beginners, undergraduates, graduates. Those with interest in the topic. To request an interpreter, please visit myaccess.rit.edu
Mavs' Comeback Comes Up Short Against Victor Wembanyama's Spurs
Despite strong second-half performances from Marshall and Flagg, the Mavericks couldn't finish their rally and dropped to 4-4.
Sixers Star LeBron James Makes NBA History Against Pistons
LeBron James needed two baskets against the Pistons to reach a number no NBA player had ever hit. The post Sixers Star LeBron James Makes NBA History Against Pistons appeared first on HEAVY.
Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Stock Sees Modest Fair Value Cut As Analysts Lower Targets
Flutter Entertainment is under fresh scrutiny after analysts cut their central fair value estimate from US$132.56 to US$126.15. That shift comes alongside research that highlights lower price targets in general, as analysts weigh guidance cuts, competition and the outlook for prediction markets against ongoing support for FanDuel and engagement driven growth plans. In the sections that follow, you will see how this evolving narrative may shape how you monitor Flutter Entertainment from...
Missouri Democrats broke the GOP supermajority in the statehouse. Now what?
A Mizzou political science professor breaks down what Democratic gains nationally and in Missouri mean going forward.
Nets take control in second half against Hornets en route to 114-104 win
Michael Porter Jr. had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Julius Randle added 22 points as the Brooklyn Nets won their second game of the season, 114-104, over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.
Across Southwest Ohio, voters pushed back against data centers — and politicians who support them
The backlash against data centers can be seen in the election results in Urbana, Piqua and Wilmington.
Seahawks bring in former 49ers QB amid Sam Darnold injury
The Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday signed former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Adrian Martinez to their practice squad after ruling out starter Sam Darnold with a quad injury for their Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that Darnold would miss Sunday’s game, describing his status as week to week. With […] The post Seahawks bring in former 49ers QB amid Sam Darnold injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Rams latest injury could lead to familiar face against Commanders
A former Commanders' first-round pick could play a primary role against Washington in Week 9.
Inside Team Trump’s Historic Collapse in the 2026 Midterm Elections
How an unpopular president and an unpopular war provided an opening for Democrats to make sweeping gains in the midterms.
Democrats make gains in Collin County as voters reshape political landscape
A longtime Republican stronghold saw Democrats make major gains in the 2026 election, even as some GOP incumbents held their seats.
Five Plays: Stanford First Quarter
Louisville started the game with an unbelievable script, attacking the edges of Stanford’s defense. They ran some option plays and a nice swing pass to Isaac Brown early on, looking to get their fast players into space against a Stanford defense that is not very athletic. I really like that they also looked to take […]
Scientists solve 30-year-old mystery and discover a hidden defense against inflammation
Scientists have solved a decades-old mystery and uncovered a hidden immune system defense that protects healthy cells from the very inflammation meant to fight infections. The surprising discovery could lead to new approaches for treating cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other conditions involving excessive inflammation.
Car crashes into business in downtown Bryan
A crash left a vehicle up against a building Wednesday near the intersection of William J. Bryan Parkway and Main Street in Bryan
What 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan said most recently about Brandon Aiyuk
The San Francisco 49ers are currently preparing for their upcoming matchup on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The team has gotten off to a great start this year despite playing without Brandon Aiyuk , who has been away from the team but reportedly may show up to practice on Friday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Now, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan […] The post What 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan said most recently about Brandon Aiyuk appeared first on ClutchPoints.
AZ business leader says election sets up tax, school choice fights
Danny Seiden says voters sent a message on rising costs, while Arizona businesses are ready to work with both parties after Democratic election gains.
Patriots Week 9 injury report: Wednesday's long list creates concern
The Patriots released their first injury report ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the Packers.
Republicans quickly turn against Pete Hegseth after midterms rout
President Donald Trump may have made the decision to launch the war that tanked voters’ support for the GOP and dealt them a midterm shellacking. But the historic losses are accelerating a push for someone else to take the fall: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Colorado Running Back Richard Young to Start Against Arizona State
Fresh off a dominant 120-yard performance against Kansas State, the Alabama transfer looks to anchor the Go-Go offense and spark the Buffaloes' late-season push toward bowl eligibility.
Democrats win full control of more state governments and the Texas House
Democrats in Texas took control of the state House after historic wins for governor and U.S. Senate, part of a series of sweeping gains nationwide in Tuesday’s elections that shifted the balance of power across several battleground and Republican-leaning states.
Democratic doctors win big in 2026 midterm elections
A political action group says Congress now has a new mandate against Health Secretary RFK Jr.
Eagles name Joe Milton as new starting quarterback
The struggling Philadelphia Eagles are benching Tanner McKee to start Joe Milton against the Giants.
It was a big night for doctors to win seats in Congress, riding the blue wave
Historically, most physicians who served in the House or Senate have been Republicans. In the next Congress, physicians who are Democrats made significant gains.
Washington Commanders: 29-Year-Old Trade Candidate’s Injury Revealed
Washington Commanders interior defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw suffered an apparent knee injury in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers. Coming off a BYE, Kinlaw did not practice during Week 8 and did not play against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Commanders placed him on injured reserve on Tuesday. This is the second defensive lineman to […] The post Washington Commanders: 29-Year-Old Trade Candidate’s Injury Revealed appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
Lions linebacker Jack Campbell says he has full movement in lower body after suffering neck injury
Detroit Lions All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell gave an update on his health days after he was carted off the field during a game against the Minnesota Vikings.
How a blue wave crushed the tech right
The Democratic wins that swept America on election night was a backlash against data centers, and a rebuke to Silicon Valley elites.
The Forces Trump Unleashed Are Now Working Against Him
He build a movement on grievance. The anti-Trump wave should look familiar.
Quentin Lake says Justin Herbert was ‘seeing ghosts’ against Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are currently gearing up for their upcoming game on the road vs the Washington Commanders. The Rams are coming off a dominant home win over the spiraling Los Angeles Chargers , one in which they held the Chargers’ offense to just nine points on the afternoon. Now, Rams safety Quentin Lake has given his glowing review of how the […] The post Quentin Lake says Justin Herbert was ‘seeing ghosts’ against Rams appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Goldman Sachs’s Asad Hader on health care's post-election boost
Asad Haider, Goldman Sachs head of U.S. Healthcare Equity Research, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss S&P health care sector gains.
Judge rules against former Harvard business professor Francesca Gino in tenure case
A federal judge has sided with Harvard in a lawsuit brought by former professor Francesca Gino, who challenged the university’s decision to revoke her tenure.
Montana Votes Overwhelmingly to Ban Corporate Cash From Political Campaigns
Supporters have billed the initiative as a way to strike a blow against the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling.
Councilmembers demand DA drop charges against Queens man shot by police during mental health crisis
Over a dozen city councilmembers this week called on Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz to drop the felony charges her office has brought against Jabez Chakraborty, the 22-year-old who was shot by police in his family’s home while experiencing a mental health crisis in January.
Trump’s billionaire-blue collar coalition has been smashed by class politics
As tech bosses get richer and ordinary Americans struggle, Democrats put the case against the US’s grotesque unfairness – and voters responded, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
Announcers revealed for Patriots' Week 9 matchup against Packers
The announcers have been revealed for the New England Patriots' Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Lawsuit filed against 'Money out of Politics' proposal after Michigan voters pass initiative
Almost immediately after Prop 2 passed in Michigan, a lawsuit challenging its legality was filed in federal court.
BC vs FSU: Seminoles Offense/Defense Preview
Boston College returns home and welcomes a Florida State state team in turmoil. The Seminoles are 3-5, having lost three straight games, and just fired head coach Mike Norvell. Their lone conference win came against UVA, though they’ve kept things close in a couple of tough matchups, losing in overtime at Miami and in the […]
Michigan State at Michigan Football: Final Score Prediction
Two struggling offenses and powerhouse defenses collide under the Big House lights as the Spartans seek a desperate upset against Tommy Carr’s favored Wolverine squad.
Uneven And Fragile Progress Against Neglected Tropical Diseases
While substantial progress has been made in driving down the global burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), trends are “uneven and fragile”, and
No. 15 Texas Tech Faces Must-Win Test Against West Virginia
No. 15 Texas Tech hosts West Virginia Saturday with its College Football Playoff hopes on the line. Injuries and quarterback questions add to the pressure.
Buckeyes Roll into Saturday's Game as Massive Favorites Against Oregon
Ohio State opens as massive favorites on Saturday against the Oregon Ducks.
Video: McKennie joins Juventus group training before AZ Alkmaar clash
Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie trained with his teammates at Continassa this morning, on the eve of a Europa League game against AZ Alkmaar.Juventus are preparing for Thursday’s away Europa Lea...
Democrats win governorships in Texas and other GOP-controlled states in rebuke to Republicans
The wins delivered a majority of governorships to Democrats for the first time in two decades, allowing them to put up a stronger defense against Trump's second-term agenda.
Cook County Public Health: Vaccinate Now Before the Holidays - Cook County Department of Public Health
As families make plans for holiday gatherings, health officials say now is a good time to get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19 and RSV. "It takes two to three weeks for respiratory vaccinations to provide maximum protection in vaccinated individuals. So, this is a perfect time to get vaccinated before gathering with family and friends for Thanksgiving," said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of Cook County Department of Public Health.
Fabian Bredlow raises suspicion about Galatasaray whistling
Speaking after VfB Stuttgart’s 2-0 defeat against Galatasaray on Matchday 4 of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, Fabian Bredlow expressed a suspicion regarding the whistling coming from the stands....
CVS Raises Guidance After Announcing Plan to Split in Two
CVS Health raised its full-year guidance on gains in its health-care benefits and pharmacy segments, but said it remains cautious amid high costs and potential macroeconomic headwinds.
Man United mock Roma with brutal tweet after comeback victory
Safe to say Manchester United enjoyed their comeback win against Roma on and off the field as the Red Devils mocked the Giallorossi with a brutal tweet at full-time.Roma wasted a two-goal lead at Old ...
“Bro Really Said the New Standard is Mediocrity”: Fans Troll Dabo Swinney as he Proudly Makes “Six Wins” Claim for Clemson
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has sparked a debate after highlighting the program’s record of consistency. Speaking ahead of the Tigers’ upcoming matchup against Syracuse, Swinney pointed out that Clemson is chasing its sixth win of the 2026 season.
Massive win and really important night
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho speaks to BBC Radio Solent after the 3-1 win against Swansea City.
Jets Make NHL History With Stunning Comeback Win Against Habs
The Winnipeg Jets appeared destined for what would have been a 10th straight loss, finding themselves trailing by a 4-0 score against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Tuesday night.But then, suddenly, everything clicked and resulted in a stunning and historic turnaround, not only ending their miserable losing skid but also setting a new […] The post Jets Make NHL History With Stunning Comeback Win Against Habs appeared first on HEAVY.
Declining influenza vaccinations continue among health care workers
Despite often caring for patients at higher risk of severe outcomes from respiratory virus infection, health care workers in Oregon continue to lag in rates of vaccination against the potentially
AI boosts operational efficiency but not systemic climate action, global study finds
Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely promoted as a tool for sustainable development, but whether its operational gains translate into deeper ecological transformation remains uncertain. A new global assessment examines how AI diffusion relates to seven core United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering health, education, clean energy, industry and infrastructure, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action. It also explores the channels behind
NBA Fans Outraged Over Adam Silver’s Latest Idea
The NBA fans are pushing back against Adam Silver’s interest in shorter games, and their objections go beyond simply resisting change. A post from NBACentral, citing Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, revived discussion of the commissioner’s preference for 40-minute contests. Several responses challenged whether cutting basketball is the right solution to the league’s problems.The replies showed […] The post NBA Fans Outraged Over Adam Silver’s Latest Idea appeared first on HEAVY.
Democrat Christina Bohannan wins election to U.S. House in Iowa's 1st Congressional District
The third time was the charm for Bohannan, who lost by just 799 votes in her second race against Miller-Meeks two years ago.
Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has been on fire since trade request
Nikita Kucherov wants out of the Tampa Bay Lightning , but he still can’t stop going all out for his team. Reports surfaced last Friday that the 33-year-old Kucherov had already asked the Lightning to move him. In the two games since, the two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner has done nothing on the ice but rack up points. Against the Nashville […] The post Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has been on fire since trade request appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Trump says Democrats 'did a good job,' blames Republican candidates for midterm losses
Voters delivered a significant rebuke to President Donald Trump on Tuesday by handing Democrats control of the Senate, rejecting his handpicked candidates while airing widespread concerns about high costs in the wake of his war against Iran and his punishing tariff policy.
Michele Tafoya Loses Senate Race Amid Nationwide Democratic Rout
Tafoya came up short against Democratic Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan.
Declining influenza vaccinations continue among health care workers
Despite often caring for patients at higher risk of severe outcomes from respiratory virus infection, health care workers in Oregon continue to lag in rates of vaccination against the potentially
AFGHS co-signatory countries ask health care users to help fill the financing gap
Hundreds of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV on antiretrovirals could be targeted for user fees or community health insurance schemes requiring modest premium payments, according to the April 2026 version of the country’s America First Global Health Strategy implementation narrative.1 As part of the “sustainable financing for the private not for profit sector” strategy, 491 facilities will be targeted for a phased introduction of user fees and scale up of community health insurance programs.2 In the Ugandan context, PNFP facilities include faith-based hospitals and other health facilities, US missionary organizations and centers of excellence—services that are often co-located at government facilities but run with additional financial and technical resources. 402,000 people—or about 28 percent of the total Ugandan adult PLHIV population on treatment—get ART from the private not for profit sector. The selected facilities provide the majority of ART and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services. The plan doesn’t give the total number of clients served by the 491 facilities, so it is not possible to give a precise number. But the majority of 402,000 is a figure in the hundreds of thousands—hence the estimate I’m using.3 The April draft of the Ugandan implementation plan narrative is the only one I’ve been able to review. But the government of Uganda is not alone in turning to health care users to help fill the financing gaps caused by the abrupt withdrawal of US funds. In July 2025, the Government of Liberia introduced user fees for previously free services including “registration, accommodation, patient feeding, hospitalization, and a wide range of surgical and diagnostic procedures.”4 Earlier that year, Liberia rolled out a revolving drug fund designed to stabilize drug supplies by “allowing patients to pay a small fee for standardized, quality medications,” according to a Ministry of Health press release.5 (Both of these approaches had been proposed in the National Health Policy 2022-2031; media coverage explicitly connects the launch with the US foreign aid cuts.) The health financing strategies proposed by Uganda and established in Liberia are qualitatively different from user fees officially adopted by specific health facilities to cover funding shortfalls caused by the new US approach.6 The latter is a stopgap, adhoc change. The former is a national governmental adoption of policies that pass costs on to health care users, despite evidence that such approaches can exacerbate inequities and leave deficits unfilled. Two countries does not make a pattern, but they do point to urgent questions: Have other countries, including Liberia, included user fees or community health insurance schemes in their implementation plans? If so, do any of these narratives have what Uganda’s lacks: a fall-back plan in place in case these strategies for sustainable health systems fail to deliver—as they have before? I wonder if you think about it Subscribe Predictable pitfalls Both community-based health insurance and user fees are as old as the hills. And after decades of people climbing up these hills, duking it out, climbing back down—neither strategy has shown the results the Ugandan implementation plan is counting on. This is, in fact, a hill some folks are willing to die on. (You knew I’d get there, right?) In November 2025, an African-led team of health system experts published a paper directed at low- and middle income country governments trying to figure out how to create self-sustaining health systems. The money wasn’t coming back. It had been more than nine months since the season of freezing, waivering and wood-chippering; two months since AFGHS tumbled into the world touting co-financing requirements and reductions in future US government health aid. Governments were looking for strategies for sustainable, self-financed health systems, the authors wrote. For countries considering user fees and community health insurance to fill the financing gaps, they had a simple message: Don’t. On user fees, the paper states: “Reliance on user fees is ultimately a regressive and inequitable approach. It places a disproportionate burden on the poor and undermines health system goals of equity and financial protection. […] There is overwhelming evidence that user fees mobilise very limited resources for the public health sector, making it an inefficient mechanism for revenue mobilisation.” On community health insurance: “Attempting to shift the burden of funding previously donor-funded services, such as HIV care and management, and TB treatment, onto contributory schemes would exacerbate their fragility and fail to protect the population.”7 The WHO says that community-based health insurance “cannot be expected to provide a major source of funding or coverage,” and noted that most schemes offer only moderate benefit to individuals paying into them, and exclude the poorest segment of the population.8 And yet, the US-Ugandan implementation plan says that community health insurance is “the central pillar of this [PNFP] sustainability strategy” and that this approach that will generate “pre-paid pooled funding at facility and community level [that] improves financial risk protection for households, reduces catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure, and generates structured, transparent revenue streams that can progressively absorb recurrent costs including health worker salaries.” Unfortunately, Uganda’s own history suggests the pillar might not be able to bear this weight. Ugandans Have Been to this Rodeo Before—and Some Want Their Money Back Uganda introduced its first community health insurance scheme in 1996 with support from international donors.9 Thirty years later, somewhere between 0.2 and 0.3 percent of the population is covered by CHI; just over 1 percent has any kind of health insurance.10 User fees were universally introduced in 1993 as a condition of a World Bank loan.11 They were abandoned in 2001, and in 2004—the year I moved to Uganda to watch the free HIV program get underway—a definitive study found that the fees did not improve health systems and outcomes.12 In 2004, most clinics and hospitals had ‘free’ and ‘fee for service’ options for getting care.13 The fee for service, or “cash and carry” programs had often been established in the years prior to PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. People who could afford to paid for the drugs, often at facilities in the private-not-for-profit (PNFP) sector. When free drugs arrived, some people who’d been paying kept on doing so, perhaps because of shorter wait times, greater confidentiality, convenience or other factors. But in the year that I spent visiting the same clinics around the country week after week—including a “center of excellence” that maintained separate days for cash and carry clients and those accessing free ARVs—lots of people who had been paying tried to switch to the free option. They’d paid because they had no other choice. They’d sold pieces of family land, begged family members for loans, bought pills by the week, and sometimes by the day. Or they were just cash-strapped, like most of us, and wanted the funds for other things. 14 Twenty-two years later, this hasn’t changed. Ugandans pay out of pocket for 30-40 percent of their health care costs, leading one paper to declare that “falling ill is more than a health crisis. It is a financial emergency.”15 One recent study found that up to 48.5 percent of households dealing with tuberculosis sold something, took out a loan or dug into savings to defray the costs of TB care—which is supposed to be universally free.16 The Ugandan implementation plan does anticipate challenges. It proposes a phased approach, with 187 facilities introducing user contribution systems in Year 1, 152 in Year 2, and 153 in Year 3. Willingness to pay and feasibility studies will precede roll out; fees will be tiered by region, and a waiver system is proposed to ensure that no one has to pay who is unable to. Moreover, the plan provides for quarterly reviews of epidemiological data to “ensure that user contributions do not compromise epidemic control gains, ART continuity for the client cohort, TB case management, or PMTCT services.” Alt text: A screenshot of a table included in the implementation plan narrative that is the subject of this stack. It’s got a fetching pink bar at the top. It uses the abbreviation “CHI” which is Community Health Insurance, and FBO which is Faith Based Organizations, and it details the number of facilities that will implement user fees with waivers and community health insurance schemes over the five years of the agreement. As I said in the footnote, this is a super interesting document with a lot of other rich material. Tell me what you see—and what you would have focused on. And if you’ve seen something like this, or anything else that strikes you, in another implementation plan, tell me that too. You can use the Substack message platform or try me on Signal at @endaplague_again.25 (because @mercoonfan was, weirdly, taken). But the plan doesn’t fully explain what will happen if this approach doesn’t work out. Yes, progress will be monitored, and corrective action triggered. However, there is no specified funding replacement if premium and fee revenue prove inadequate. Instead, the authors write, “Currently, COEs serve a total client cohort of over 180,000 across 28 facilities. In the initial years, the U.S. Government (USG) will provide financial support for clients; over time, user fees generated by COEs will become the primary source of funding for sustaining their services.” Failure does not really seem to be an option. Health insurance schemes are more acceptable to the Ugandan population than user fees. Members of Parliament and civil society traveled to Ethiopia to see how that country’s scheme worked. In a follow up report, a veteran civil society group recommended allowing the “health insurance ecosystem to grow organically and [to] keep reviewing the law and regulations as this growth takes root.”17 One study found that more than three-quarters of Ugandans were willing to join a health insurance program.18 However, coverage of community-based health insurance is minimal, as is coverage of any kind of insurance—including private plans.19 A national health insurance scheme bill has been stalled for several years and presently sits with President Yoweri Museveni.20 Community-based health insurance scheme that do exist are expanding in number, but losing enrollees. Between 2022 and 2026, the number of community-based health financing schemes across the country increased by 42 percent, while the number of people enrolled decreased by nearly 11 percent.21 None of this means that community-based health insurance should not happen in Uganda—or that people do not want insurance. It doesn’t even mean that user fees and waivers won’t ever work. But there is highly relevant evidence from Uganda and the surrounding region that it is quite optimistic to describe community health insurance and user fees as central supports for sustainable financing in any sector of the health system. And now for the best-case scenario In the best-case scenario22, the Ugandan approach does exactly what it sets out to do, and so does the Liberian fee structure and revolving pharmacy fund—though I’ve not confirmed that these are in the MoU. In one best-case scenario, Uganda is an outlier, and user fees and community health insurance are not recurrent pillars of self-sustaining financing in other countries’ implementation plans. In another best-case scenario, all countries that include these strategies enjoy success beyond anyone’s evidence-informed wildest dreams: reliable funding generated by health care users fees, great health care outcomes for everyone, no exacerbation of inequities, no crippling household debt. No sold land, repurposed school tuition or high-interest loans. In the best-case scenario, not one of the hundreds of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV receiving antiretrovirals from 491 PNFP facilities misses a refill or leaves care because of user fees or community health insurance premiums. This is the best-case scenario for these people for their own health, and for their families. It is also the best-case scenario if Uganda wants to stay on the path to eliminating HIV as a public health threat. According to the country’s most recent data, 96.5 percent of people living with HIV on antiretrovirals are virologically suppressed. Epidemic control depends ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those individuals are on ART, and 95% of those individuals are virologically suppressed. Uganda is still struggling with the first “95"—a frankly abysmal 85.3 percent. If HIV epidemic control and the attendant prevention of new infections, avoidable suffering and premature death matter, the country cannot afford to lose any clients who are currently in care.23 As I write this a couple hours before the polls close for the US elections in the city I live in, I say with soul-deep sincerity: I am rooting for the best-case scenario. I think it’s safe to say that we all are.24 I think it’s also safe to say that if the US and co-signatory governments have inked plans that lead to successful expansion of community health insurance and strategic use of user fees, we all would like to know, now, so that we don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate when success happens. The implementation plan narratives have to enter the public domain. They are the fullest expression of a strategy co-created by two governments. There are assumptions and details that people living in the US and co-signatory countries need to understand that are not available in the MoUs or, to date, in the Congressional Notifications. Some of these details can help other countries that are, as I write this, still working on implementation plans. Others, like a solid count of how many other countries have plans for expanding user fees or health insurance, are important for regional and global health architecture reform initiatives. No matter how this election night turns out, there will be a slew of new Congressional member orientations, briefings and talking points papers in the next few months. Release of implementation narratives should be a bullet point in every context that AFGHS is discussed. These documents can be redacted so that procurement sensitive information isn’t disclosed. There is much more historical precedent for sharing such documents than there is for relying on user fees to fill health financing gaps. Let’s look at the information together so we can hope for the best and prepare for, you know, the other thing. Alt text: A substack first: a bicep selfie! It’s my arm - peachy-white skin, black shirt (flannel, notch neck, too hot for this appallingly balmy November weather, if you’re wondering) and a sticker that says I VOTED 2026. Beige letters on red for I voted. Beige on blue for 2026. You bet I did.25 In your wildest dreams. Subscribe 1 This is a really, really rich 95 page document. There are fascinating ideas and detailed plans in it. It is all worth reading AND I have, in this post, highlighted an instance of content that could pose challenges and certainly posits success of strategies that haven’t worked before. I would love to hear what readers’ see that’s interesting and should be lifted up as something to check for in other implementation plans. I will also shortly be adding a static page to the substack site where implementation plan documents will live. I will put the url into this footnote and it will also be there on emilybass.substack.com by the end of the week. Uganda Implementation Narrative Section 4 April 22 2026 Draft 1.51MB ∙ PDF file Download Download 2 User fees are costs charged for visits, labs, medicines or other health services, usually at the time they are provided. Community health insurance, or community-based health insurance, is what the World Health Organization calls “micro insurance,” which is health insurance targeted at low-income people. 3 As usual (by which I mean always), please prove me wrong. 4 https://smartnewsliberia.com/liberias-ministry-of-health-announces-2025-hospital-service-fees-for-public-facilities/?utm 5 https://moh.gov.lr/news/2025/grand-cape-mount-leaders-residents-embrace-new-community-pharmacy-program/?utm 6 https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/09/hiv-usaid-pepfar-africa-foreign-aid-cuts-mission-hospitals/?utm 7 https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/11/e021270 8 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/community-based-health-insurance-CBHI 9 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2827475/ 10 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861328/#b3-jpmph-23-110 11 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC527704/ 12 Same citation as the footnote 2 - the article is called “Learning from failed health care reform in Uganda.” To which I say: If only. If. Only. 13 There is a whole taxonomy of user fees to be aware of, if not commit to memory. Out of pocket costs are everything that someone pays for themselves. In this Stack, user fees are planned and policy-supported out of pocket costs. There are also out of pocket costs that people pay to buy drugs or receive tests or health care assessments that would be free if the drugs were on the shelves, or the machines or kits were available, or the staff were on site. A user fee is usually designed to be modest, pegged to willingness to pay, and may be waiveable at the point of care for anyone who is unable to do so. The costs for things that would otherwise be free are whatever the market will bear and people either have to pay them or go without. Out of pocket costs for services and stuff that aren’t available in public facilities are different again from bribes or unofficial fees that some health workers may impose, even though most are indefatigable, tireless and tired, and devoted to their clients. 14 For the record—which really is these footnotes—I would give a whole stack of fridge magnets for a systematic analysis of the economic and social impact of the Mass Unemployment Event in AFGHS countries among the very people who used to be able to afford and cover user fees, both for themselves and vast family networks. Locally employed USAID technical staff, house cleaners, caregivers, drivers and technicians were financial anchors for cousins, friends, friends’ children, friends’ childrens’ cousins, teachers, pastors, neighbors and so many other kinds of kin. Aid recipients lost direct funding; many other people who had not been aid recipients, but parts of the elaborate care webs that function as safety nets for so many people, lost crucial support too. And that’s even before we get to the people who worked at the hotels and restaurants and bars where people employed by the US and its implementing partners used to spend disposable income. Those businesses have lost revenue; those folks have lost jobs. It will be some time coming—and someone will have to fund this work—but I do hope it happens. And I hope, as usual, to be proven wrong. 15 https://eprcug.org/blog/how-out-of-pocket-healthcare-costs-keep-driving-ugandans-into-poverty/ 16 Another straight-to-the-point journal article title. Households experiencing catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis in Uganda: magnitude and cost drivers. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32938411 17 https://www.cehurd.org/download/technical-policy-brief-on-community-health-insurance-scheme/?wpdmdl=13661&refresh=6ae9122f5d4ed1793659439 18 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10125197/ 19 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861328/#b3-jpmph-23-110 20 https://ugandapost.news/uganda-to-make-health-insurance-mandatory-by-2026/ 21 https://shu.org.ug/download/235 22 With a nod, tip of the stack hat, and wag of the Mercoon tail to a deeply valued reader who told me that I have a tendency to speculate about the worst-case scenarios a little too much of the time. 23 https://news.mak.ac.ug/2026/10/uphia-2025-shows-ugandas-hiv-status-awareness-gap-despite-strong-treatment-outcomes/ As you’ll see in the next footnote, I’ve already written a subSubstack on another topic, so I will be brief with regard to the study referenced in this article. The Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment, or UPHIA, will never happen in this way again. For more than a decade, PHIAs have been supported by the US government as a way to generate accurate estimates of country progress on key HIV indicators. They are a holdover from the PEPFAR program that was laser focused on ensuring US taxpayer dollars subsidized progress in pandemic control. There may be other population-level surveys and the data may even be publicly released, as the entire set of FY2026 MER data have not. But PHIAs will never happen again. If you’re wondering whether the estimates of HIV progress at country level might get less reliable….you’re not alone. 24 Ooh baby, I hate “we” in almost all forms. But sometimes I go there, when I am looking for company, which I am. Because this Stack moves into the somewhat-uncharted territory of assessing what the implementation plan narratives may suggest about co-signatory countries’ roles and responsibilities to the people living within their borders. The MoUs, specimen and data sharing agreements were templates. Countries’ answers fit into pre-specified questions that did not include, “how are you going to fill financing gaps and stabilize your health system as this plan unfolds?” In contrast, the implementation narratives are open form—the product of co-creation between the two governments. Co-creation can mean lots of things, but nothing leads me to believe that implementation plans are ghost-written by the US government, or that contents were imposed by the US counterparts. Instead, I think the parts of the plans that read like country government initiatives are endorsed, if not initiated by, those governments. For instance, the Ugandan implementation plan narrative describes plans for revenue-generation through fees charged for equipment calibration, repair and maintenance provided through Uganda’s National Equipment Calibration Laboratory, and laboratory accreditation through the Uganda National Accreditation Service (UGANAS), targeting private sector, PNFP, research and academic clients. That’s super specific and also quite ambitious. It doesn’t read like an American idea. There’s also a provision for solar panels, and other stuff that feels country owned and driven. This is where it gets interesting. If co-creation is the case, then both the US and co-signatory governments are accountable for the contents and the outcomes. Most discourse about AFGHS to date has focused on the decisions that America has made, or demanded that other countries make. The AFGHS architects have monopolized the hot seat. As they should, in so many ways. America absolutely created the conditions under which countries needed to come up with health financing strategies to fill unanticipated, catastrophic funding gaps. And with not-too-long a lens, we can look back and see that America is also on the hook for its role in the Bretton Woods institutions that made user fees and health system fiscal austerity conditions of loans during the era of structural adjustment. But in the here and now, it is not at all clear to me that the US is requiring Uganda or any other country to implement specific approaches to sustainable financing. Instead, it is as the authors of that paper up in footnote 6 suggest: African governments have agency. As implementation plans roll out—whether or not the narratives are shared—it will be important to understand what this agency looks like and what it means for people, including the poorest of the poor. And it will be important to figure out how to talk about it safely, respectfully and critically in places other than the literal and metaphorical footnotes. 25 This week’s song is “Once upon a time” by the Moody Blues. (I know, this is gonna be a weird, largely banger-free end of 2026 playlist. HMU with requests.) AND please do watch the video and appreciate the truly amazing opening sequence—a drum kit wasteland, a coupla plastic bags, a bit of sand. Sort of like the hill where fiscal austerity policies that put costs on health care users might go to perish. But then there’s a lady with amazing hair. It’s worth it.
Midterms show Democratic gains, internet joking DEI is back
Early election results show huge gains for Democrats. Delighted internet denizens say it means DEI is so back.
Alabama Dealt Surprising News Days Before SEC Showdown vs. LSU
Alabama was just dealt some major news days before the team's showdown against LSU. The post Alabama Dealt Surprising News Days Before SEC Showdown vs. LSU appeared first on HEAVY.
Takeaways from the midterms: Americans broadly rejected Trump — and Democrats stand to make huge gains because of it
The Democratic wave is here — and now, as votes are counted in key states, the question is how many Republicans it will wipe out.
Democrats eye sweeping gains and reshaping of political map
Two Senate races that a year ago were thought to be battlegrounds turned out to be slam-dunks for the Democrats.
US stock futures dip as midterm election results loom
Early results showed Democrats making gains in the Senate, although control of both chambers of Congress remained uncertain.
Buccaneers' Irving Already Climbing Team's All-Time Rushing List
After a dominant 170-yard performance against Atlanta, Bucky Irving has stormed into the franchise's top ten for total offense, fueled by a relentless, high-volume rushing attack this season.
Caitlin Clark Makes Her Opinion Around Valkyries Winning WNBA Championship Against Dream Extremely Clear
The WNBA’s growth has been impossible to ignore over the past few seasons, with rising attendance, record viewership, and new franchises adding to the league’s momentum. The 2026 season took that progress another step forward, as the Golden State Valkyries delivered a historic championship run just two years after entering the league.
Pacers News: Indiana Finds Bright Spot Amidst Injury Woes
The Indiana Pacers' news cycle lately has consisted of injuries; however, following the contest against the Hawks, Indiana may have found a diamond in the rough. The Pacers' main story for the start of the season has been their injury-plagued roster, including Tyrese Haliburton, missing at least two weeks due to a hamstring strain. In …
NASA is racing against time to save the Hubble Space Telescope
NASA is exploring a daring plan to save the legendary Hubble Space Telescope from its eventual fiery plunge into Earth's atmosphere. After more than 35 years of groundbreaking discoveries, Hubble is slowly losing altitude, and without intervention, it could fall back to Earth as early as 2033 or 2034. To keep the iconic observatory operating, NASA is asking private space companies to propose innovative ways to boost Hubble into a higher orbit, upgrade its capabilities, or safely dispose of it when its mission finally ends.
Six climate and health actions could save 1.6 million lives and deliver trillions in benefits each year
Six proven climate and health measures could save 1.6 million lives a year while delivering trillions of dollars in economic and fiscal gains, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report released today.
Quentin Tarantino felt like he was ‘letting down’ Brad Pitt by ditching Cliff Booth sequel
Quentin Tarantino believed he was ‘letting down’ Brad Pitt when he decided against moving forward with ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.”
Michigan home health company settles race discrimination lawsuit
A Michigan home health company will pay $41,137 to settle claims it discriminated against and retaliated against a Black nursing assistant.