SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Keep " 4,388 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
More mid-tier mental health services needed in Arkansas to limit youth hospitalizations, lawmakers told
Arkansas needs more intermediate-level youth mental health resources in order to keep children from being sent to a hospital unnecessarily, advocates told state lawmakers Monday.
Healthcare drives Arizona’s job growth, but can employers keep up?
Healthcare is providing much of the state’s job growth, but employers need workers and money to keep expanding. Medicaid cuts aren't helping.
Northern Arizona athletics prepares for Protect College Sports Act
NAU Athletic Director Richard Duran has a plan to keep the Lumberjacks competitive and fiscally responsible following the Senate's passage of the Protect College Sports Act. NAU will prioritize in-state recruits and strategic investments.
Padre Island business matches candy donations to keep Hawksnest, Eagles Nest bowls full for Halloween
Island Tire Automotive has collected more than 400 pounds of candy for Hawksnest and Eagles Nest neighbors, matching every pound donated as candy prices climb.
State says it will keep 25 mental health beds at Choate, expand regional jobs
Illinois will retain 25 mental health beds at Choate while expanding psychiatric services and jobs across the region.
Siri AI keeps getting better, here’s what’s new in iOS 27.2
Apple is rolling out its 27.2 software updates today, and they introduce several improvements for Siri AI. Here’s what’s new.
Cherokee Federal company awarded contract to strengthen US Navy fleet readiness
Cherokee Nation Government Solutions, a Cherokee Federal company, has been awarded a $99.3 million, five-and-a-half-year contract through a competitive small business set-aside under the SeaPort-NxG contract vehicle.
Business Ins & Outs: 260 Sample Sale, Spicewalla, Olli; Bonne Vache
The hits just keep on coming …
Opinion: City Hall keeps asking small businesses for more. Enough is enough.
And as City Hall debates how to close another budget deficit, I hope we remember that the small businesses we’re asking to pay more are the very ones we depend on to grow our economy.
Wilmington Health facility sells for $9.4M
Wilmington Health’s main facility recently sold for more than $9 million. The 66,000-square-foot facility located at 1202 Medical Center Drive was purchased by Charlotte-based real estate investment firm Cedar Square in a $9.4 million sale-leaseback transaction, according to a deed recorded Oct. 21. Wilmington Health will continue leasing the facility, CEO Jeff James told the Business Journal in September. James said the lease term would likely be five years, with most services eventually transferring to a new medical office building under construction in the Midtown Park office area near The Pointe at Barclay. The Wilmington Health facility was originally listed earlier this year at $11.85 million. A Wilmington Health representative did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Steve Hall, vice president of BlueCoast Commercial, represented Wilmington Health in the transaction. “Wilmington Health wanted to unlock the value in its real estate without disrupting a single patient visit, and a sale-leaseback let them do exactly that,” said Hall in a text to the Business Journal Monday. “Cedar Square gets a long-term, absolute net investment anchored by one of the region’s leading physician groups, and Wilmington Health keeps its home on Medical Center Drive while redeploying that capital into care.” The sale marks Cedar Square’s first entry into the Wilmington market, according to Jon Dixon, the firm's managing partner and founder. “We are attracted to Wilmington's growth and what we see as strong long-term fundamentals,” said Dixon in an email Monday. “Population growth, relative affordability, and quality of life make it a compelling market for us. The climate and proximity to the coast are a big part of that appeal.” He added, “We hope to pursue additional opportunities across retail, industrial, medical office and multifamily in Wilmington. We will evaluate opportunities individually and remain disciplined about the properties we pursue. We would like this acquisition to be the beginning of a broader investment presence in Wilmington.” Given the facility’s age, Dixon said the site could eventually be redeveloped, potentially for medical office space or housing. Dixon said recent announcements from UNC Health and Atrium were among the factors behind the firm’s growing interest in Wilmington’s medical-office market. The announcements involve competing proposals for hospital expansion in New Hanover County, which are subject to the state’s Certificate of Need process. “Medical office remains one of the most sought-after asset classes in commercial real estate,” said Hall, “and well-located (medical office buildings) with strong operators are scarce in Southeastern North Carolina.” According to Dixon, Cedar Square describes itself as a boutique, hands-on real estate investment firm that values direct relationships with tenants and the communities where it owns property. “We’re very hands-on, and we like to be in direct contact with all of our tenants and the communities in which we own,” Dixon said. He added, “We’re definitely interested in building a presence with local owners, brokers and businesses or tenants.”
Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller restock tracker: we’re watching these retailers
🎮 Nintendo will release a Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller on October 29 💰 It costs $99.99, the same as other limited editions 📅 A restock could occur on launch day at Walmart and Best Buy 🚨 Our Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller restock tracker @mattswider on X will send out an alert when stock appears Walmart: Zelda Pro Controller Best Buy: Zelda Pro Controller Amazon: Zelda Pro Controller Target: Zelda Pro Controller GameStop: Zelda Pro Controller Nintendo is releasing a special limited edition Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda series. It releases on October 29, 2026, which is when we expect to see a long-awaited restock of the hard-to-find controller. 🚨 We’re tracking Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller stock updates. If you’d like to know when more stock arrives, follow Matt Swider on X and turn on notifications. You can also become a free or paid subscriber to The Shortcut to help support our work. 🚨 The Switch 2 Pro Controller features the same striking gold and royal emerald color scheme of the Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary edition, and also includes a fun little easter egg on the back: an 8-Bit Link. 🚨 Want the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller? Drop your email for restock alerts before it sells out. ⤵️ Subscribe This is the same Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller we’re used to, aside from the intricate design, but it means you’ll have to pay more as a result. It costs $99.99 instead of the standard $89.99. However, the Pro Controller is the easiest way to play the best Switch 2 games in TV mode. If you’ve been searching for a Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller restock, here’s everything you need to know. Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller should restock at these retailers We’ve seen retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy restock items on release day, even when pre-orders have sold out. It’s likely that the Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller will be up for grabs on October 29, 2026, when the controller and console launches. Demand will be high, and stock could sell out fast. However, we’ll be keeping a close eye on every major retailer, including Target, Amazon, GameStop, and the Nintendo Store and will alert our followers as soon as stock goes live. Why you can trust our Zelda Switch 2 Pro Controller restock tracker We’ve already helped over 400,000 people buy a PS5 when it was in and out of stock during Covid, and we’ve helped our subscribers continue to secure hard-to-find items. The Shortcut followers were some of the first to secure the Switch 2 when it went on sale, and we’ve also helped countless others snag limited edition consoles like the PS5 30th anniversary edition. The Shortcut and Matt Swider on X offer exclusive Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller restock updates with up-to-the-second US store inventory checks at the biggest retailers. You’ll receive an instant notification on X (if set to on) as soon as new stock arrives. Up next: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review roundup: ‘a strong return to form’ Subscribe Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.
The Fans Trying To Save Mass Effect Just Paid For A Billboard In Times Square
The group’s petition to keep BioWare’s series alive just surpassed 200,000 signatures
ChatGPT Keeps Telling People 404 Media Can Solve Their Tech Support Problems
Because big tech doesn't do customer service, we are being inundated with AI-generated emails begging us for help.
📈 Monday data: The bottleneck isn’t intelligence
In the AI Investment Brief today: CapEx updates and lease commitment breakdowns Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark recently said in a speech at the IMF that the singularity has begun: For many years, researchers and science fiction authors have forecast a future in which AI systems drastically increase the pace of overall scientific and technical progress, making things move so quickly that it is hard for humans to keep up. They call this the singularity. I believe that this year we have gained convincing evidence that it has now begun. This follows Anthropic’s claim that in August, 26% of its AI R&D was led by Claude, with a human supervising its work. In October, OpenAI posted 719 math manuscripts1 made by its internal model. Math and coding are two fields where a research loop can close without leaving the desk. But can the loop close in the rest of science? Subscribe The loop is real The idea is not new. Mathematician Irving John Good, who had worked with Alan Turing at Bletchley Park, argued that a machine smarter than us “could design even better machines; there would then unquestionably be an ‘intelligence explosion,’ and the intelligence of man would be left far behind.” The Gödel machine, a self-improving computer that can rewrite its own code better than its prior, was first proposed in 2003. In 2025, researchers at Sakana AI and the University of British Columbia set out to show that this was possible. Their agents iteratively improved their own code through a feedback loop, resulting in gains of 30 pp on SWE-bench and more than 15 pp on Polyglot, testing coding skills beyond Python. The idea has since been tested in other labs. A Gemini-powered agent called AlphaEvolve found a faster matrix multiplication kernel used for training Gemini, speeding up the kernel by 23% and cutting Gemini’s training time by 1%. In China, MiniMax reported that its M2.7 model worked on improving its own agent’s harness, skills, sampling and memory. Over 100 rounds of rewriting led to a 30% gain, per its internal evaluations. In each case, what was being rewritten was not the model itself but everything around it. Is it better than human work? In September this year, in what seemed like a milestone, an AI-built agent proved as good at improving other AI agents as a human-built one. It did that in what appeared to be half the steps. But the result was inconclusive: the differences between runs were greater than the difference between the AI- and human-built agent results. Nonetheless, this is increasing the chatter around recursive self-improvement (RSI) in AI. Google’s Sundar Pichai said that “you have RSI loops along with AI researchers in various aspects of model development.” Sakana AI published a paper on RSI through multi-agent collaboration, finding that after two cycles its system scored 1.2–1.6x better per output token than the base model across four research benchmarks. Ramez Naam challenges that view. He splits AI self-improvement into five overlapping types. The first four describe how autonomous the AI is; so far, only types 1 and 2 have been observed. The fifth type describes accelerating returns, and he notes that greater autonomy doesn’t guarantee a takeoff scenario. Instead, each round of self-improvement would need to deliver at least as much as the last. The results from Sakana, AlphaEvolve and MiniMax above might look like type 3 or type 4 autonomy. But in each case, the AI wasn’t updating its own weights directly, only the ancillary parts — the harness, the memory. And where Claude leads its own R&D, for now a human still supervises.
Lunin: “Discipline, attitude and determination were key”
Real Madrid backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin talked to the club’s media after starting in Madrid’s 2-1 victory at the Camp Nou. “Discipline and attitude were key because Barcelona had more possession. Also, the determination because playing away is tough, and today these three points were important because we all knew how things stood. Teamwork was […]
‘Keep In-House Business In-House,’ ‘Don’t Put A Target On My Boy’ — Super Bowl Champ Irritated By Jonathan Taylor’s Wife’s Take on Trade Rumors
Things are getting messier by the day for the Indianapolis Colts. Sitting at 2-5 after arguably their worst three-game stretch of the season, the franchise has already parted ways with general manager Chris Ballard.
Sony Awarded a Hacker $50,000 for Privately Reporting a PS5 Exploit He Found With AI — Now He's Public Enemy Number One
A hacker sparked an uproar within the PlayStation 5 homebrew scene for privately reporting an exploit to Sony and cashing in on a $50,000 reward, rather than keeping it confidential for the community.
Intuition pushed mom to keep checking for breast cancer
Michigan mom had no reason to suspect cancer. But instinct nudged her to find out for sure — and carried her through challenging treatments to remission.
Svilar expected to be back against Sassuolo on 7 November
Mile Svilar wants to return to Roma’s goal. The Giallorossi goalkeeper has begun the countdown to his return, even anticipating his recovery time: he could be available for Gian Piero Gasperini by e...
To keep rural healthcare workers, Missouri is helping cover their childcare costs
New funding will expand a program that shares childcare costs among employers, families and the state. But finding available care still presents a challenge for many families.
In his own words: Trump on gas prices and energy costs since launching the war with Iran
Since launching the war with Iran nearly eight months ago, U.S. President Donald Trump has struggled to quell soaring energy costs, undermining Republicans’ attempt to keep control of Congress in the midterm elections next week.
‘Astronomical’ Arab turnout could reshape Israeli politics in key election
Netanyahu’s opponents consider unprecedented alliances to keep him out of power
Staying healthy on Halloween doesn't have to mean skipping the candy
Experts say having kids eat a well-balanced meal before heading out to trick-or-treat is a good way to keep them from overindulging — but it's perfectly fine to let children enjoy Halloween, candy and all.
Many Medicare Patients Could Lose Access to Remote Monitoring Devices
A proposed federal rule could dramatically reduce access to remote patient monitoring programs for people on Medicare. The services aim to keep patients out of the hospital by giving them devices to monitor their health at home, but critics say there isn’t enough oversight.
Business News: Audemars Piguet Unveils 'The Watch Keepers' - A Digital Platform Offering Certified Pre-Owned Watches
The Le Brassus watchmaker will facilitate sales and auctions of brand-certified timepieces on a digital platform launching in Switzerland and Europe, with plans for expansion to other markets, including the U.S.
Sleep in total darkness to maintain heart health, researchers say
WASHINGTON — Many a pop song has nudged us to turn the lights down low, but for cardiovascular health, the better choice is to keep them off entirely it seems,
How to Manage Symptoms of Heart Failure
(Feature Impact) Americans are facing a growing health challenge, with 1 in 4 adults at risk of heart failure, according to the Heart Failure Society of America. Additionally, approximately 6.7 million U.S. adults who are 20 years old or older are currently living with heart failure, and that number is projected to reach 8.7 million by 2030. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('JGFI_Article_300x250'); }); Managing heart failure is a significant expense to the U.S. healthcare system, costing the nation approximately $40 billion in 2020 and expected to increase to approximately $142 billion a year by 2050.If you (or a loved one) are living with the condition, consider these tips to help manage it.Adhere to the Treatment and Follow-Up PlanOngoing outpatient care is important when managing heart failure. Understand the treatment plan provided by your healthcare team, make diet and lifestyle changes, take medications as directed and keep recommended follow-up appointments.Pay attention to changes in symptoms and communicate with your healthcare provider if treatment does not seem to be working as expected. If their conditions are left unmanaged, patients can experience a range of heart-failure-related symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, buildup of fluid and more.Understand Challenges with Diuretic TreatmentDiuretics help the body remove excess fluid and are commonly used to treat swelling, or edema, associated with heart failure. Your provider may try different diuretics, sometimes referred to as “water pills,” to manage your heart failure symptoms. However, intravenous (IV) diuretic therapy may be required for some patients if symptoms continue.Ask About Treatment Options Before IV Care Is NeededFor some adults, a healthcare provider may consider recommending an at-home, non-oral diuretic option prior to escalating to IV therapy.For example, ENBUMYST™ (bumetanide nasal spray) is a prescription diuretic used in adults to treat edema associated with congestive heart failure. It’s administered as a nasal spray for short-term use to manage excess fluid with the goal of transitioning to oral diuretic therapy when appropriate.Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more and visit enbumyst.com. Read the full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.Photo courtesy of Shutterstock googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('JGFI_Article2_300x250'); }); Important Safety InformationWhat is ENBUMYST?ENBUMYST is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat swelling caused by excess fluid in the body (edema) from congestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease.What is the most important information I should know about ENBUMYST?ENBUMYST is a diuretic that helps your body remove fluid. Losing too much fluid can cause dehydration, low blood volume, and increase the risk of blood clots. Blood abnormalities may include decreased salts (electrolytes), and increased nitrogen, glucose and uric acid. The risk of these abnormalities is higher in elderly people, those using higher doses, or those who do not get enough electrolytes by mouth.You should not use ENBUMYST if you have severe electrolyte loss. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience unusual thirst; dizziness or lightheadedness; weakness or tiredness; fast heart rate; dry mouth or tongue; sudden pain; redness or swelling in your joints; pain, swelling, redness, or warmth in your leg; shortness of breath or fast breathing; high blood sugar; dark urine; pale, tight, cool or clammy skin; muscle cramps; confusion.Do not use ENBUMYST if you have low or no urine production or are allergic to bumetanide or to any of the ingredients in ENBUMYST.Before using ENBUMYST, tell your healthcare provider if you have low electrolytes, are on a low-salt diet, have diarrhea, diabetes, nasal problems such as a runny or stuffy nose or polyps, a history of nasal injury or surgery, are or plan to become pregnant, are or plan to breastfeed.Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.ENBUMYST may cause serious side effects, such as worsening kidney function and ringing in the ears or hearing loss.The most common side effects of ENBUMYST include dehydration, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, and abnormal brain functioning with certain liver problems.These are not all the possible side effects of ENBUMYST. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.US-ENBU-2600110 googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('JGFI_Article3_300x250'); });
Groundskeepers at prepare the bullpen mounds at Tropicana Field
Groundskeepers prepare the bullpen mounds at Tropicana Field in preparation for the World Series in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Bruins’ Unbeaten Run Gets A Bigger Test Against The Hurricanes
Boston keeps finding ways to survive difficult moments, but the Bruins’ latest comeback sets up a tougher question: can they carry that resilience into a Tuesday road game against one of the NHL’s most demanding opponents?
Luka Doncic 50-Bomb Keeps Lakers’ Perfect Start Intact
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic recorded a 52-point double-double in the Lakers' 132-123 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday. The post Luka Doncic 50-Bomb Keeps Lakers’ Perfect Start Intact appeared first on LA Sports Report.
What’s going on with AJ Dybantsa’s ankle injury?
The Washington Wizards have started off playing well this season, and they’ve done so without the No. 1 overall pick. AJ Dybantsa hasn’t made his NBA debut yet as he deals with an ankle injury, and it looks like he’ll have to keep waiting after the latest update on his status, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. “AJ Dybantsa will remain […] The post What’s going on with AJ Dybantsa’s ankle injury? appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Democrat Coumba Kebe wants to keep the politics out of the treasurer’s office
Political newcomer Coumba Kebe is the Democratic nominee for Indiana state treasurer. Kebe wants to keep the politics out of the office and build back trust with people.
Primark's Business Doesn't Make Sense
In a world where fast fashion giants like Shein, Zara, and H&M drop thousands of new styles every day — and rake in billions through e-commerce — Primark is doing the unthinkable: thriving with zero online shopping. So what gives?*Want to Know the 5 Trends Changing Modern Retail? Find Out Here:* 🔗 https://clickhubspot.com/d13ac2In this video, we take you inside Primark’s weirdly brilliant business model — a model that’s stuck in the past on purpose. From warehouse optimization and floor-ready freight shipments to why the pandemic didn’t push them online, we unpack how this low-cost retail giant has managed to defy digital norms… and make it work.This isn’t just about one brand. It’s a story about modern retail expectations — and what it actually takes to meet (or reject) them.Subscribe to The Hustle:🔗 https://clickhubspot.com/vu3lGet the 5-minute newsletter keeping 2M+ innovators in the loop🔗 https://clickhubspot.com/3klnAbout HubSpot: HubSpot is a customer platform that provides education, software, and support to help businesses grow better. The platform includes marketing, sales, service, commerce, operations, and website management products that start free and scale to meet our customers’ needs at any stage of growth. Today, thousands of customers around the world use HubSpot’s powerful and easy-to-use tools and apps to attract, engage, and delight customers.#TheHustle #HubSpot
Cardinals vs. Broncos live updates, analysis, highlights, scoring
We have live updates of the Cardinals-Broncos game in Week 7. Keep up with pregame, in-game and postgame coverage.
New Trump housing order targets mortgage and title insurers
A White House plan to pull private mortgage insurance off loans sooner, and to let refinancing borrowers skip the lender's title policy, affects two insurance lines that say they already help keep costs down
Face the Facts: New health insurance helps early childhood educators
Child care is expensive, and keeping qualified workers on the job is part of the challenge. Now, Connecticut is offering a new health insurance subsidy to help early childhood educators lower their monthly premiums. Rep. Kate Farrar (D-West Hartford) explains how it works and why it could make a difference for families. Mike Hydeck: For years, Connecticut has had among…
Business lessons are coming to liberal arts schools
A new AP business with personal finance course continues the growth of teaching kids about how to make money and keep it.
AP Business lessons are helping high school students learn how to manage money
A new AP business with personal finance course continues the growth of teaching kids about how to make money and keep it.
12 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar
Catching you up on the past week’s most notable product releases.
U of M fellowship aims to boost rural obstetrics training and keep labor and delivery units open
The partnership is launching the new, one-year family medicine obstetrics fellowship next summer to prepare family medicine physicians to provide advanced prenatal, maternity and newborn care in rural communities. The only other fellowship of this kind in Minnesota is at Essentia Health in Duluth.
Real Madrid rocked by Thibaut Courtois INJURY BLOW just hours before El Clasico showdown with Barcelona
Real Madrid have suffered a major setback ahead of their crucial Clasico showdown against Barcelona after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was ruled out through illness. His late withdrawal forces the club to rely on deputy Andriy Lunin for the vital Liga fixture at Camp Nou.
New York Giants' Never-Ending Nightmare Might Get Even Worse
Things just keep getting worse for the New York Giants.
Is it rude to keep the airplane window shades open?
In this Sunday edition of Business Insider Today, we're breaking down the flight etiquette debate that's dividing the internet.
Small gyms increase health and connection in rural communities
Within the Adirondacks, outdoor recreation keeps people active. But small gyms popping up encourage indoor activity.
BREAKING: Courtois out against Barcelona
Real Madrid have announced that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will not play against FC Barcelona tonight. Per Realmadrid.comCourtois is a last-minute drop due to a flu process for tonight’s match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, corresponding to the tenth round of the League. Illia Voloshyn enters the squad list in his place. This is devastating news […]
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Make Your Phone Hot. Here’s How to Keep It Cool
Powering a car dashboard is more demanding on your handset than you might think. These tips will save battery life and help your phone chill out.
“We Have No Business up There” – Gattuso Insists Lazio Are Targeting 40 Points
Gennaro Gattuso urges Lazio to keep their feet on the ground and focus on modest objectives despite leading the Serie A table.Lazio Overcome Parma TestThe Biancocelesti raised their tally to 22 from a...
Swapping horses for ninja warriors: The Olympic sport undergoing massive change
Several Olympic sports have evolved over the years to keep up with an ever-changing landscape, but few have been as drastic as the Modern Pentathlon.
Juventus is limiting one of their best players
Kerim Alajbegovic was expected to receive considerably more playing time following Kenan Yildiz’s injury, which is set to keep the attacker out of action until the end of 2026. However, things have ...
Guest opinion: Partisan politics don’t belong in Montana’s courtrooms
As retired district court judges who worked in courtrooms across Montana, we know there is no Democratic or Republican way to handle the everyday court cases Montanans face. That’s why we support Constitutional Initiative 132 to keep our judicial elections nonpartisan.
Jordan Mason is back, and the rest of the NFC should be worried
The Minnesota Vikings are getting a major offensive weapon back as running back Jordan Mason returns from injured reserve. With a crucial matchup against the Indianapolis Colts approaching, Mason's return could give Minnesota the boost it needs to keep its unbeaten streak alive.
Mission Health hospitals collect 289 pounds in 'Crush the Crisis' drug take-back day
One simple step. For some local hospitals - that makes a big difference in keeping dangerous medications out of the wrong hands.
Skip Bayless Has Bold Vikings Declaration After Bears Win
Skip Bayless doubled down on his belief that the Minnesota Vikings will win the NFC North despite the Chicago Bears’ recent victory, keeping the division race firmly in the spotlight. The outspoken sports commentator’s prediction signals that he remains confident in Minnesota’s chances as the NFC North contenders continue to battle for position. The Bears’ […] The post Skip Bayless Has Bold Vikings Declaration After Bears Win appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
Los Angeles health authorities report 2nd second rabies-positive raccoon
In a follow-up on the report a rabies-positive raccoon found in Los Angeles County, the first in more than 5 decades, the LA County Department of Public Health is investigating a second rabies-positive raccoon found in the Westlake Village area of Los Angeles County. Public Health has confirmed that the first raccoon was positive for a variant of rabies typically found in bats. Strain testing for the second raccoon is currently pending. The second rabid raccoon was found in a backyard in the vicinity of where the first raccoon was reported and appeared sick and aggressive. No residents or pets were exposed to the raccoon. Two people at a worksite may have been exposed to the raccoon and are receiving recommended follow-up for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. The World’s Deadliest Viruses Prior to these detections, the last confirmed rabid raccoon in Los Angeles County was detected in 1973, when the skunk variant (strain) of rabies was still present in the County. That strain has not been detected in Los Angeles County since 1979. In 2014, a skunk infected with the bat variant of rabies was detected in Long Beach. “The detection of rabies in another raccoon is an important reminder to never touch, handle, or feed any wild animals, even when they appear healthy,” said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “Always keep a safe distance from wildlife and contact your local animal control if you encounter an animal that appears to be sick, injured, or behaving unusually. It is also critical to ensure your pets are up to date on rabies vaccination so they are protected before any potential exposure. Keeping your pets vaccinated is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your entire family.” Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Netflix’s Leadership Shake Up…Explained
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Well, I had a simple article planned for this week. Called “Whoa, I Missed It!”, I’d take a gander at a few important-but-under-the-radar stories I didn’t cover while I wrote about all things “Skydance. (Formerly known as “the saga of Netflix trying to buy Warner Bros., but not Discovery, then Paramount-Skydance bought all of Warner Bros. Discovery”.) Alas, that article will have to wait. Netflix made news. Ironically, my “Whoa, I Missed It!” article would have mostly been about “content” strategy decisions, which is also what today’s article is about. But instead of the entire industry, this article will only cover Netflix’s decision to upend their film and TV content teams. Just that! So that’s the full topic of the day. I’m going to tackle the issue in the opposite direction of the way “stuff” flows: uphill. We’ll start at film, then move onto TV, and then onto the CEOs themselves, and the strategy questions that still remain. But we start with the numbers driving this. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Netflix Upends Their Corporate Hierarchy I’ve got a lot of thoughts, but we’ll start with the most common response to yesterday’s article. Let’s Talk Stock Price More than one person, responding to what I published two days ago, pointed out that, well, actually, the thing driving Netflix’s actions is this: In short, stock price! Even if Netflix isn’t obsessed with their own share price—they probably are, but, for the record, my strategic advice to every CEO is to absolutely ignore stock prices, which will, ironically, probably help the stock price long-term—most everyone thinks they are. By the way, I prefer market capitalization to stock prices, because it’s a more apples-to-apples way to compare companies: But there’s an even better way to look at it, and it kinda casts some doubt on the entire push here: price-to-earnings. I have a long list of articles that I wish I had written, and chief among them is an article titled, “Am I Still a Netflix ‘Bear’?” meaning someone who thinks Netflix’s stock is overvalued. As of last summer, Netflix had solved their biggest problem—which for me (circa 2019) was the lack of free cash flow—but their stock was CRAZY overvalued. That’s this chart here: Why did Netflix’s stock price increase to a price-to-earnings ratio of 50 last summer? What financial metric changed so quickly? Nothing. Given that, historically, mature entertainment companies average 10 to 20, with 16 being the average, that increase made little sense. Netflix’s stock swoon these last eight or so months wasn’t irrational; the stock price rise last year was. So if you want a really hot Netflix take, here it is: Netflix’s stock price has been going down because the financial industry recovered its senses, not because of any strategic mistake. Yes, that would imply that cleaning house may have been a mistake. That’s why the charts yesterday are so important, because they show that Netflix did have a strategic problem (a lack of hits) and that’s what they moved to address. (One could also argue the industry drastically overrated Netflix’s growth prospects, but that’s a financial industry problem, not a Netflix strategy problem per se. Some growth estimates are just crazy. *cough* AI *cough*) Now, the last time Netflix’s stock price crashed—circa 2022—it gave them an opening. I’d argue Netflix insiders knew they needed to expand post-COVID-19 crisis, adding advertising, cracking down on password sharing, and dabbling in sports. But if they had done that when their stock price was high, it would give folks a reason to second guess their strategy. (Arguably, last year, when Netflix pursued the Warner Bros. merger, it gave the industry a chance to review their business.) Instead, after the 2022 fall, they had the opening to make strategic changes. We may see Netflix pivot again following this latest slide. For example, the “binge versus weekly” conversation is alive and well again. Same for expanding into theaters even more. And adding both linear channels and streaming bundles. And maybe more either social, user-generated, vertical, or creator content. But the first shift came with who is making the content calls. A Message from Our Sponsor Last winter Pulp Fiction was on Netflix. For those same 90 days, it was also free, with ads, on Pluto TV and the Roku Channel. That is not a glitch, and it is not rare. The title has run on 20 different US streaming services since 2019, across 80 separate windows, and for more than 600 of those days it sat on a paid subscription service and a free ad-supported one at the same time. Almost nobody can see this, because when a title leaves a service, the record that it was ever there tends to leave with it. Reelgood keeps that record, dated to the day rather than the month: 4MM+ movie, show and episode titles across 300+ services globally, with timestamped arrivals, departures and moves across SVOD, AVOD, TVOD and vMVPD. Licensing teams price against every prior window. Rights teams check what a licensee actually delivered, and when. Pick a title you think you know: data.reelgood.com/title-availability Film - Dan Lin Want to know why I don’t opine on individual film or TV executives, especially new hires? Dan Lin. As I always caution, it’s really, really, really tough to predict which executives will succeed in new roles and which won’t. The successful head of co-production/finance partner, Rideback, Lin was considered for the head of DC Studios job before taking the job as the head of Netflix. By all accounts at the time, this was a smart hire. (That’s my read of the news coverage anyways.) But now that Netflix has fired Dan Lin, we got a slew of news stories about how he was doing a terrible job. In sports media, Bryan Curtis, new Substack writer/podcaster from The Ringer, calls this the “now you tell us” story, when you only hear the bad news after a star athlete leaves a sports team. In this case, now they tell us that Dan Lin was bad with talent after he got kicked out the door. So was Dan Lin a flop? It’s actually tough to say. While film moves faster than TV, even two years isn’t really enough time to evaluate a person’s output. The new head hasn’t really taken control. As Emily Horgan noted, it takes much longer than two years to produce animated films, so yeah, it’s definitely too early to judge in that domain. As for live-action films, I just published an article by Brandon Katz called “Netflix’s Summer of Bummer”, but I’d point out Netflix had a bad summer two years ago too. Arguably, their best summer came from KPop Demon Hunters last year and Happy Gilmore 2, the latter of which I saw credited to Lin. Then, the stories came out that Dan Lin clashed with talent, both Ben Affleck and Greta Gerwig, classic “now they tell us” factoids to explain his firing. This may have been true, but also should have been expected given that he was given the mandate to bring budgets back in check, especially after Rebel Moon. So if he made folks upset, well, that’s what he was hired to do! But also, he was described as “well-liked” at his hiring! In that case, I’m a bit sympathetic to Lin, since he may have been undercut by senior leadership, as often happens. Basically, a CEO hires a subordinate to be their “bad cop” and keep budgets in check, but then when talent complains, the CEO ends up undercutting them. That’s how I think you end up with a Narnia movie as expensive as any of the other flops, along with a film executive the town no longer likes. As a result, I think that Netflix is now executing a classic “hire the opposite” move by hiring Peter Rice. This phrase comes from my experience following football and basketball coaching decisions, where teams generally hire the opposite of who they just had. If you have an offense-minded head coach, hire the defensive guy. Or in college football, if you have a strong recruiter, then you pivot to an “X’s and Os” type of guy. Or in pro basketball, if you have a very analytically minded coach, you hire the player-friendly guy. I see that here. After dropping Scott Stuber—arguably a talent-friendly executive with lax budget control—Netflix hired the business guy to keep costs in check. Now Netflix is pivoting back to Peter Rice and presumably a more talent-friendly regime. (Disney, by the way, has done this twice: hiring business guys to succeed talent-friendly Bob Iger. It didn’t work out last time.) When it comes to Peter Rice…we’ll see! Maybe he works out, but maybe he doesn’t. I’d actually say the biggest problem is that Netflix still hasn’t solved its “IP Problem”, in that they don’t own much IP, so they just have a lower hit rate. The new executive won’t solve that. (Though buying Lionsgate would help.) Share “Content” - Bela Bajaria I almost published yesterday’s article after this column, but ended up flipping the order, because it told the story so well. So if you want the data for why Netflix is looking at TV to fix their problems, it’s in that article, this graph in particular: I know I just wrote that it’s often hard to judge executives, but Bajaria ran TV for six years and film for three and a half more. That’s more than enough to judge hit rates, and Netflix needs more hits. That’s the story. Since 2023, Netflix hasn’t had as many hit shows as it used to, and many of its previous power house TV shows have ended their runs (Stranger Things most of all). Also, many shows from 2020 to 2022 probably pre-dated Bajaria’s tenure. (That said, one thing may have been outside of Bajaria’s control, which I explain below.) Let’s lump some content strategy thoughts about Netflix and TV into one place: We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Why I partially blame Squid Game for Netflix’s latest troubles… What is “the football trap”... Why it might not be the TV shows or films’ fault at all… What change I don’t think Netflix will make... How Bela Bajaria evolved Netflix’s TV strategy in smart ways… Whose departure likely submarined Bajaria’s final few years… One sneaky explanation for Netflix’s content struggles... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
Spurs seal rare win at Chelsea as Palmer sees red
Tottenham clinched a Premier League win at Chelsea for just the second time in 36 years as a woeful own goal from Blues keeper Mike Penders was followed by Cole Palmer's red card in Saturday's 2-0 victory.When Palmer's run was halted by Fernandes's handball, the Chelsea star escaped with a yellow card after barging into his rival with such aggression that the Tottenham midfielder was sent crashing to the sodden turf.
Health insurance costs keep climbing for American workers, a new survey finds
The 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Thursday, found that covered workers were paying hundreds of dollars more toward their premiums this year compared with last year.
Health insurance costs keep climbing for American workers, a new survey finds
The 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Thursday, found that covered workers were paying hundreds of dollars more toward their premiums this year compared with last year.
An ex-bookkeeper spent $375 to launch a sewing business: 'I hadn't felt so sure about something like that in a long time'
Eric Lugo runs Stitch Lab ATX, a sewing studio that offers group classes and events to teach basic sewing skills.
Family Health Insurance Now Costs $28,303 — But Workers at Small Companies Pay 42% More
Americans have grown accustomed to watching their paychecks shrink under the weight of rising expenses. Groceries cost more, housing consumes a larger share of household income, and utility bills keep climbing. Yet one of the biggest financial burdens is often deducted before workers even receive their paychecks: health insurance. Unlike a trip to the supermarket, […]
Apple Store Pickup System for iPhone Duo Just Went Live Again in U.S.
The option to reserve an iPhone Duo for Apple Store pickup resumed in the U.S. around 8:10 a.m. Eastern Time today, but our spot check has revealed little to no availability for all configurations right now, so keep checking back. Apple Store pickup was offered for just a few minutes after iPhone Duo pre-orders began last Friday, and the option then disappeared until now.
NFL Week 7 picks: Experts overwhelmingly favor 49ers over Falcons
The 49ers look to keep their undefeated season alive in Week 7.
Time expert Philippe Richard on why scientists are changing how we keep time
Scientists have voted to change how the world keeps time, but most people won't even notice. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Philippe Richard, director of Switzerland's Federal Institute of Metrology.
Doctors Reveal 5 Early Signs of Arthritis You Should Always Get Checked Out
Keep them on your radar.
College Players to Watch: Week 7
Here are some players to keep an eye on in Week 7 and why they would matter to the Saints.
Health Insurance Costs Keep Climbing for American Workers, New Survey Finds
It's an important issue for voters in the midterm elections
NASA Is Still Aiming for the Next Moon Landing in 2028
Administrator Jared Isaacman said that the space agency was exploring ways to keep Artemis III on target without compromising safety.
UW Health helps parents avoid the Halloween sugar rush
It’s the holiday of all things creepy, crawly and, of course, candy. UW Health pediatric dietitian Shirley Poole has tips to keep kids from consuming too many sweet treats.
Former housekeeper for Kate Gosselin corroborates her son Collin’s abuse allegations, claims she reported to child services
Collin previously alleged Kate was reported to child services, although he said the agency did not find the abuse claims credible.
In one of the West's few swing races, a Democrat tries to keep a Trump district
Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is home to a tight race that will help determine the balance of power in the U.S. House.
West River Mental Health to take over Rapid City youth crisis center
West River Mental Health will take over operations of Rapid City’s 24/7 youth Crisis Care Center on Nov. 1, keeping critical mental health support available.
Multiplatinum artist Joe Nichols brings ‘Sunny and 75’ to Hard Rock Tulsa Jan. 29
Ranked by Billboard among its Top Country Artists of the 21st Century, Joe Nichols is heading to the Hard Rock Live stage inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa at
Microsoft is testing a cleaner, faster File Explorer context menu for Windows 11
The updated context menu aims to reduce clutter while keeping common actions easy to access.
Scheme alert: iPhone users may be hacked by scrolling past ad or visiting legitimate websites
The exploits are used to target iPhone users whose software has not been updated and is vulnerable to spyware. Experts say keeping the system updated is key to preventing successful attacks.
GIGABYTE WRTX90 AI TOP Threadripper motherboard comes with massive cooler to keep memory under 43°C
GIGABYTE details its WRX90 AI TOP motherboard with seven PCIe 5.0 slots and up to 2TB of DDR5 ECC memory. Two MCIO connectors provide additional expansion.
Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
More Than a Charcuterie Board: A Mother and Daughter Build a Business Around Gathering.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Birch Bay Retirement Village. NORTHEAST HARBOR—Food’s ability to be a social cornerstone is one of the founding premises of one of Mount Desert Island’s newest, and perhaps most unique, endeavors in cuisine based catering. From intimate gatherings to large functions, Olive & Pearl creates charcuterie boards that can not only astound the tongue but also the eye. Many would agree that food can bring people together. In fact, culinary delights, and sometimes adventures, have been utilized as the centerpiece for social and business occasions of all kinds for centuries. Often times it even has the ability to start conversation, temper differences, and build new relationships. Settings can vary, from a multi-course sit down meal, a backyard barbecue, or a couple of bowls of chips and dip in front of a television, but the result can be the same. Humans come together, they share food, and the whole process is a catalyst for thought, communication, and a shared experience. Imagined and created by the mother and daughter team of Dr. Susan Scanlan (formerly MacCready) and Kayla Musetti, Olive & Pearl was started in June of this year and has been creating, delighting, and growing since. We gave the two an opportunity to answer some questions about themselves and their new venture. The love, passion, and pride for what they are doing and the fact that they are doing it as a mother and daughter team came through so strongly in their answers that we decided to present the question and answer session in its entirety. The Interview What did you do prior to Olive & Pearl? We’re a mother-daughter team, and food, family, and hospitality have always been a big part of our lives. Susan grew up in a large family in Pennsylvania, where the table was always at the center of everything. There were multiple dishes, little bites, stories, and plenty of conversation. Food was never simply about eating. It was about gathering, celebrating, and spending time together. After living in several Southern states, Susan relocated to Maine more than 20 years ago, and Maine has truly become home. She loves its sense of community, natural beauty, and connection to local food and makers. Professionally, Susan is a registered nurse and holds a doctorate in health administration. She has worked in a variety of clinical, nonclinical, and leadership roles and currently works as a faculty academic director. Building Olive & Pearl has been an exciting creative venture alongside her career. Kayla is also a registered nurse and works in the ambulatory surgery unit at Mount Desert Island Hospital. While healthcare is an important part of both of our professional lives, Olive & Pearl has given us an entirely different way to connect, collaborate, and create something together. Tell us about the business. Olive & Pearl is a mother-daughter charcuterie business centered around beautiful food, thoughtful presentation, and bringing people together. We create curated charcuterie boards designed for everything from intimate gatherings and dinner parties to weddings, showers, corporate events, boat days, and celebrations of all kinds. We think of our boards as more than food. They’re an experience and an invitation to gather, slow down, and enjoy time with the people around you. We’re intentional about quality ingredients, artful presentation, and personalization. Whenever possible, we also incorporate Maine-made and locally sourced products, including cheeses, jams, honey, seasonal produce, and baked goods. What inspired you to start Olive & Pearl? In many ways, Olive & Pearl grew out of something we had been doing our entire lives —bringing people together around food. We’ve always loved creating beautiful spreads for family and friends. There was something special about watching people gather around a table, graze, talk, laugh, and simply enjoy being together. Friends and family began telling us, “You should do this as a business,” and one day, we stopped laughing it off and started mapping it out. We realized we had an opportunity to combine our different strengths and create something that reflected what we both value: hospitality, creativity, quality, and connection. Charcuterie felt like the perfect expression of that. It’s beautiful and creative, but it’s also communal and approachable. At its heart, it brings us right back to where the idea began, a table filled with food and people gathered around it. Do you have a business partner(s)? Our business partner is each other! Olive & Pearl is truly a mother-daughter partnership, and building it together has been incredibly meaningful and sometimes hilarious! We know each other extremely well, which can be both a strength and, occasionally, a challenge. We have different personalities and strengths, but we’ve learned to lean into those differences and use them to our advantage. There’s a lot of trust between us, and we’ve learned how to communicate, collaborate, and occasionally laugh at ourselves along the way. We’re also building Olive & Pearl while continuing our careers in healthcare and education, so we’re taking things thoughtfully and growing the business one step at a time. We all have to start somewhere. One of the most rewarding parts has been having something that belongs to both of us. We get to learn from one another, celebrate the small wins together, and create something that we hope will become part of our family’s story for years to come. When exactly did you launch the business? Recently, in June 2026, we launched Olive & Pearl, turning an idea we had talked about for years into real business. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch something that started around our own family table and begin to find a place within the community. How is it going so far? How do you feel it has been received? It has been going very well, and we’ve been incredibly encouraged by how warmly Olive & Pearl has been received. As more people hear about us, our orders have continued to increase, and we’re seeing growing interest in boards for events and celebrations. It’s exciting to watch something that began as an idea between the two of us start to grow within the community. One of the most rewarding parts is hearing from customers after their events or seeing photos of our boards being enjoyed. Knowing that something we created became part of someone’s celebration is incredibly meaningful to us. Is there a brick-and-mortar location or is it all online? Olive & Pearl is currently an online business. We’re intentionally starting this way so we can build relationships with our customers, learn what they love, and grow thoughtfully. Our long-term dream, if the business continues to grow, is to eventually have a sit-down space where people can experience Olive & Pearl in person. Do you have any future plans if things go well/keep going well? Absolutely. For now, our focus is on continuing to grow Olive & Pearl, getting to know our customers, and becoming part of more celebrations and gatherings throughout the area. Long term, we would love to have our own physical space where people can come together and experience Olive & Pearl beyond the boards themselves. We can imagine a place that combines food, hospitality, creativity, and community. Ultimately, we want to build something that continues to grow while still feeling personal and connected to the people and community around us. Is there an aspect of the business that you really love? There are so many things we love about it, but the people and the connection are probably at the top of the list. We love creating something beautiful, but what really matters to us is what happens after we hand it over to the customer. We picture our boards on kitchen islands, at backyard gatherings, on boats, at weddings, or around a long dinner table—with people laughing, talking, and lingering a little longer. We also love the creative side. Every board is an opportunity to play with color, texture, shape, seasonality, and flavor. We don’t just want to fill a board, we want to curate an experience. And supporting local makers is especially meaningful to us. Whenever possible, we love incorporating Maine-made cheeses, local jams and honey, seasonal produce, and products from nearby bakeries and businesses. It allows us to showcase some of what makes Maine so special. Perhaps most importantly, we love doing this together. Building something as a mother and daughter has given us another way to spend time together, learn from one another, celebrate small wins, and create memories. Is there anything regarding any aspect of Olive & Pearl that you may think is important that is not reflected on the website? One thing that may not always come through online is just how personal this business is to us. Olive & Pearl isn’t something we created simply because charcuterie was popular. It grew very naturally from our family, our traditions, and the way we’ve always enjoyed gathering with people we love. There is a lot of heart behind every board. We think about the people who will be enjoying it, the occasion they’re celebrating, and how we can make the experience feel special. We also want people to know that we care deeply about supporting locals whenever possible. Using Maine products isn’t just about sourcing ingredients, it’s about telling a little story about where we live and the talented people who make and grow wonderful things here. Is there anything that we have not asked that you think is important/relevant that would like readers to know? We hope people see Olive & Pearl as more than just a charcuterie business. At its heart, it’s about gathering. Our goal is to make it easier for people to create those moments when everyone gathers around the table, conversations last a little longer, and people simply enjoy being together. We also hope people see the mother-daughter story behind the business. We’re building Olive & Pearl alongside our careers, one step at a time, and there is something incredibly special about creating a shared family legacy in the process. For us, success isn’t just about how many boards we make. It’s about becoming part of people’s special moments - birthdays, weddings, weekends with friends, quiet evenings at home, or a beautiful day on the Maine coast. If one of our boards helps people put down their phones, linger a little longer, laugh a little more, and enjoy the people around them, then we feel like we’ve done exactly what we set out to do. All photos courtesy of Olive & Pearl. LINKS TO LEARN MORE Olive & Pearl website Olive & Pearl Facebook Olive & Pearl Instagram RECENT PRESS RELEASES AND BRIEFS To see all the press releases, click here. To see our news, click here. For the full archive, click here. All of these are on our dedicated website. [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ Pemetic Students Share Thoughts on Declaration of Independence Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ Fall Festival at the Nor’Easter for Mount Desert Nursery School, October 24. Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Explore career opportunities where you make a difference for Maine’s natural resources—and the people who enjoy them. Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Cranberry Isles Comprehensive Plan Committee Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/cranberry-isles-comprehensive-plan) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/cranberry-isles-comprehensive-plan) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) [ Community School Hosts a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser October 25! Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
There's a new toxic dating trend: ‘cushioning.’ Is it cheating?
What is ‘cushioning’? The dating trend that keeps a backup on the bench
Democrats’ Projected Majority Grows as 19 More House Races Shift Away From the GOP
Republicans’ path to keeping control of the House has all but evaporated. The outstanding question is how large Democrats’ majority will be in 2027; in the best-case scenario, their party could enter the new Congress with more seats than they had after successfully flipping control of the House in 2006 and 2018.
Your iPhone Duo Is a Big Investment—Here’s How To Keep It Protected and Powered, Anywhere
If you're buying Apple's first foldable, you need the best accessories for it.
Inside the Cleveland business keeping home winemaking alive, for now
Nestled on a residential street in a historic haven for immigrants, a tradition lives on at Collinwood Grape.
What you should know about hidden science behind sports betting apps
Sports betting apps use behavioral science to keep users engaged, often outpacing state regulations and rules.
Fred VanVleet Rests and Marcus Smart Gets the Keys Over Reed Sheppard
Ime Udoka prioritizes veteran stability as Houston manages Fred VanVleet’s recovery. Defensive stalwart Marcus Smart takes the starting reins during back-to-backs, keeping rookie Reed Sheppard in a reserve role.
Parkview Health keeps securing more partnerships
The Indiana health system reached another hospital affiliation agreement with Goshen Health and is planning to acquire Ovation Healthcare.
Today's 5 headlines: Clásico preview; Spanish wins in Europe
Good morning and happy Friday. Yesterday brought the European and South American international action to a close. Here are the day's top 5 stories to keep you up to date with the football world. The b...
Giants’ strong special teams unit has one big weakness: counting
One of the best special teams units in the NFL can’t keep getting burned by something as simple as counting to 11.
No practice for Deebo Samuel
Hamstring issue keeps San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel sidelined
Stanford vs. NC State Preview: Will Cardinal Keep Momentum Rolling?
Coming off a 34-7 win over Elon, the Cardinal host the Wolfpack on Friday night, looking to keep their bowl hopes alive.
Why do we yawn? Discover your brain’s rinse cycle!
Investigate how a big yawn may help flush waste from your brain, and explore ways your body’s systems work together to keep you healthy.
On Byron Donalds campaign stop in Sarasota, crowd cheers for keeping Florida red
Polls show Donalds in the lead, though it's a tight race with 12 days to go until the election.
Meta's board thinks keeping Zuckerberg at its California office is key
The tech giant's effort to dissuade its CEO from relocating reflects a common belief that the best work happens when everyone is together in person.
How construction impacts can underpin racial inequities for Lawrence business owners
When construction starts, businesses owned by Black and Brown people in Lawrence can face a tougher climb toward recovery. One city commissioner says we must “do the work” to keep building opportunities for local establishments.
UW Health doctor says diabetes should not sideline young athletes
MADISON, Wis. — A UW Health doctor says Type 1 diabetes does not have to keep young athletes from participating in the activities they enjoy.
Trump backs Ramaswamy on ad featuring Amy Acton\'s estranged mother
President Donald Trump has urged Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, to keep running a controversial ad. The ad features the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton.
Brewers Made Right Call Keeping Henderson Over Skubal
Prioritizing long-term stability over a blockbuster trade, the Milwaukee Brewers’ front office gambled on homegrown talent, which has them chasing their first World Series.
Hilary Swank reveals how she kept her pregnancy at 52 a secret
Hilary Swank says it wasn’t that difficult to keep her third pregnancy a secret thanks to people in her life being so ‘respectful of my privacy.’
Cherokee Nation signs historic filmmaking collaboration with UCLA
Cherokee Nation recently signed an agreement with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television that will support an annual reciprocal filmmaking exchange between UCLA TFT and Cherokee Film with
How well have past GOTY winners sold?
We’re less than two months away from 2026’s The Game Awards, and what a year it’s been for fantastic games, including Resident Evil Requiem, Forza Horizon 6, Slay the Spire II, the Blood of Dawnwalker, and Control Resonant – just to name a few. So as we approach the end of the year, we thought we’d look back on our estimates for the GOTY winners of the past four years. In terms of revenue, Elden Ring (2022 winner), Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023), Astro Bot (2024), and Expedition 33 (2025) have generated a combined $3.8B via 73M copies sold: Let’s have a look, then. Elden Ring has generated $2B in revenue Elden Ring is a phenomenon in every sense. It’s sold a whopping 36.4M copies across Steam (50%), PS5 (35%), and Xbox (15% across console and PC). Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring also just passed an astronomical milestone: $2B in revenue. While PlayStation and Xbox account for half of Elden Ring’s copies sold across these three platforms, they account for 57.5% of revenue. This – as ever – is due to regional pricing and the higher relative share of PC gamers in lower-priced markets. For example, around 17.4% of Elden Ring’s Steam copies sold were in China, where the game costs about 26% less than the price in the States. There’s an … interesting narrative going around these days that console gamers are only interested in ball-and-gun games and have the patience for little else. Well, Elden Ring’s impressive sales prove that is simply not true, and across all platforms. What’s more, over 9.8M people have played Elden Ring for over 100 hours, with nearly 3.5M people getting all of the achievements and trophies. For reference, 10.9% of Elden Ring’s PlayStation players have the platinum trophy, while 10.5% of players on Steam and 3.9% of Xbox players unlocked all the achievements. Git gud, Xbox players! Of the 1.5M people who played Elden Ring on PlayStation last month, 4% also played Dark Souls 3 last month, 4% played Bloodborne, and 3% played Sekiro. There’s those Soulsborne diehards for you. By many accounts, including my own, Elden Ring is one of the best games of all time. It’s an evergreen seller that will continue to be a cash cow for Bandai and FromSoftware for years to come. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Elden Ring has sold another 2M copies across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox this year, generating almost $110M. This means it’s outperforming many of this year’s high-profile releases. Even Elden Ring’s standalone run-based PvE spinoff, 2025’s Nightreign, has sold 7.8M copies and generated $282M in revenue. Baldur’s Gate 3 is another billion-dollar-plus banger Another cross-platform phenomenon is Baldur’s Gate 3, which has sold 23.2M copies and generated over $1.2B in revenue. About 18.7M of these copies (80.6%) are via Steam, 2.9M via PS5 (12.7%), and 1.6M (6.8%) via Xbox. Around 1.3M folks on Steam bought BG3 before it hit 1.0. The PlayStation version launched about a month after the PC 1.0 release, while the Xbox version came four months later due to technical issues around developing local co-op on the Series S. Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Across platforms, Baldur’s Gate 3’s monthly active users have never dropped below 2M, including 2.2M MAUs last month (68.5% on Steam, 21.9% on PS5, and 9.6% on Xbox). And it still regularly brings in 280K to 400K players every day: About 1% of BG3’s Steam player base has played for over 500 hours! That’s a little under 200K people. Astro Bot is also an evergreen seller, albeit a more niche, family one Astro Bot, 2024’s winner, has now sold 4.7M copies and generated $291M in revenue. The budget, including marketing, is almost certainly under $100M, given the small Japan-based core team and three-year dev timeline. You can really see why the tides are changing toward less expensive hubs. Astro Bot is the only first-party winner on this list, but follows other first-party winners of The Last of Us Part II (2020’s winner), God of War (2018), and Breath of the Wild (2017). Around 46.6% of Astro Bot’s copies sold have been physical, which is far higher than the typical game. This makes sense for a couple of reasons: There’s a large family audience for this one, and physical boxes are an item to wrap when giving Astro as a gift. Astro has collector value for the PlayStation core (this is nostalgia-fueled platformer celebrating PlayStation’s history) Want more free estimates and insights in your inbox twice a week? Subscribe below! Subscribe Astro is another one of those games that continues selling over time, regularly selling more than 100K a month. It’s sold around 1M more copies this year ($60M in revenue) and is a popular title with families. We can see this using the Alinea platform’s MAU crossover tool: Astro Bot’s top #2, #3, and #4 games by crossover in any given month this year are Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox – without fail. The #1 title every month, though, is Astro’s Playroom, a pack-in with all PS5 consoles. For every month this year, between 20% and 30% of Astro Bot players also played Astro’s Playroom that month. So the free pack-in is a noice funnel for converting players to a full paid product. Expedition 33 sells 8.7M despite Game Pass cannibalisation Finally, we have last year’s winner – Expedition 33. The turn-based-RPG banger has generated $366M via 8.7M copies sold, with 58.8% on Steam, 35.7% on PS5, and 5.5% on Xbox. Xbox’s share of copies sold is this low due to Expedition 33 launching on Game Pass, where 4.3M people across console and PC accessed the game. A little under 700K Xbox players used their subscription to play Expedition 33 this year. That said, the game’s 1.5-year Game Pass deal ended last week on October 16, and we’re already beginning to see a positive trend on Expedition 33’s copies sold via Xbox (but the jury’s still out!). There’s understandably a lot of French pride behind this one, as France is the game’s #3 market on both Steam and PlayStation. Vive la France! One thing that stood out to me is that the GOTY winners aren’t $300M Hollywood productions made in the US. They’re mostly mid-budget studios outside the traditional AAA cost centres. Lots to think about there. Also, good games sell well; who’d have thunk it!? And there’s a whole load of them this year, with GTA 6 still to come, too. GTA just made the cutoff point for the VGAs this year. What a coincidence! Loading... Cool links and other stuff Our physical games newsletter from Tuesday was picked up by GameSpot, Eurogamer, TweakTown, and a bunch of others. We’re offering a free trial of our platform for games companies. Send us a message here, or reply right here on Substack/email, and we’ll set you up. Next week, we’ve got some exciting news regarding the future of our newsletter, so stay tuned! The last word Reply to this email – or reach out here – if you have any feedback for the newsletter – or want to request a game for us to cover. Want to see why these companies (and many others) are subscribed to Alinea? Get a free platform trial! [Alinea Analytics boasts the most accurate PC and console estimates in the business. Game makers use our platform to understand their audience, keep an eye on the competition, monitor sales trends, and spot new opportunities. We equip game studios and financial institutions with accurate data and the confidence to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Want to talk about all things games market data? We’d love to chat!]
N.Y. state calls on agencies to keep budgets flat
The warning comes as the state is already facing projected budget gaps in the coming years.
Health insurance costs keep climbing for American workers, a new survey finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — People who rely on employer-sponsored health insurance paid more for their coverage this year, with employees at small businesses and their employers especially squeezed by the surging