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'I can't do performances': Billy Joel gives health update after recent brain surgery
"I'm not allowed to drive. And I can't do performances." | Billy Joel opened up about his health in a recent interview, saying that while he is better now, he doesn't know if he'll be able to perform again.
“Something Out of Science Fiction”: A Ghostly Green Star Has Been Revealed for the First Time
White dwarfs glow in a rainbow of colors, one recorded for the first time in new research showing how these stars can defy expectations.
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel said he has hydrocephalus, a condition affecting his balance, memory, vision and hearing, and that he is unable to perform or drive.
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Music star who attended Berklee College hits Trump with 3-word insult onstage
A Grammy-winning singer with a Berklee College background used some choice words about President Donald Trump during a recent performance.
AtScale Finds Semantic Layer Boosts AI Accuracy on Enterprise Data by Up to 2.4x
A more powerful AI model isn’t necessarily the answer to unreliable business analytics. New research from AtScale found that leading AI models answered fewer than 40% of business questions correctly when querying databases directly. But when AtScale added its semantic layer, accuracy improved by 1.7x to 2.4x across all seven models tested. In one test, […]
Health officials warn mosquito-borne illnesses confirmed on Gulf Coast
We're taking a look at what these illnesses are, where they are being reported and what's being done to stop the spread.
Go back to the medieval times with the Baton Rouge Maker Faire. See when, where, what to do.
Join the East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s Maker Faire for medieval-themed activities, hands-on projects, performances and more.
ASUS ProArt P16 "RTX Spark" Laptop Review - NVIDIA's First Full PC Platform Brings Powerful AI & Gaming Capabilities
NVIDIA RTX Spark launches with ASUS ProArt P16, featuring N1X SoC, 6144 CUDA cores, & up to 128 GB memory for impressive gaming and AI.
Inflation expected to push holiday sales above $1 trillion
The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts retail sales in November and December will total $1.013 trillion, up 4.2% over 2025 sales in the same period. 2025 holiday sales rose 3.1%...
Prost! Oktoberfest fun in Cape Coral
Oktoberfest kicks off for two weekends of fun in Cape Coral.
What Science Changed Its Mind About in 2026
Bats were thought to have fixed, unmoving eyes. Starfish were assumed to feed passively. Queen bumblebees were considered helpless in water. New research in 2026 has quietly dismantled some of science's longest-standing assumptions about the animal kingdom.
Windows 11 Is Finally Becoming the OS It Should Have Been From the Start
Microsoft is completely redesigning parts of its OS so it doesn't hog all the resources of lower-end PCs with 8GB of RAM.
Next Week on XBOX: New Games for October 19 to 23
Next Week on XBOX: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Final Fantasy Resonance, We Were Here Tomorrow, and more coming soon!
Plague is stoppable. The next health threat may not be.
The word plague is scary. Centuries ago, the Black Death killed tens of millions of people and changed the course of history. Plague still kills people around the world, and the word still evokes catastrophe. New fears of plague surfaced on October 2, when a lab worker in Irkutsk, Russia, died of pneumonia. Reports suggested that she may have contracted plague through a laboratory exposure. Understandably, people were alarmed. On October 7, the World Health Organization called for the Russian Federation to be transparent about what it knew. WHO issued an update on October 10. Russian authorities told WHO that testing did not identify plague and that investigations found no laboratory release. WHO said confidence in its risk assessment remained limited and that further clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory information was needed. The cause of the woman’s illness remains unknown, and WHO says a laboratory-associated exposure cannot be excluded. As I explained in a recent interview, this incident is very unlikely to lead to a pandemic. Plague is still active, including in the U.S., which sees a handful of cases each year. But it is a disease we can prevent and treat. Plague doesn’t spread readily, and it responds to antibiotics. The standard response—isolate the patient, trace contacts, and administer antibiotics and monitor for symptoms among contacts for seven days—works. We have even planned for antibiotic-resistant plague. At CDC, we developed a playbook for antibiotic-resistant plague and ran exercises on how to find and stop it. CDC guidance anticipates engineered resistance and recommends two different classes of antibiotics if there’s reason to suspect it. There is no evidence that resistance—or even confirmed plague—is involved in this incident. We have thought through how to address plague, but we’re not ready for the next major health threat that emerges from a lab or from animal spillover to humans. What should concern people is how little stands between the world and the next pathogen to get loose. Since peak COVID, epidemic preparedness has fallen off the political agenda, but the risk is greater than ever. More labs handle dangerous pathogens with more ways to make those pathogens deadlier, and more people live and work in close contact with animals. There are actions we can take now: We need better lab safety in every country. The number of labs that work with dangerous pathogens has increased worldwide over two decades, but there’s no enforceable international standard and no inspection regime; the Biological Weapons Convention, fifty years on, still has no verification mechanism. Labs that study dangerous germs need strong safety systems, training, and oversight. We need to reduce spillover events. Three in four emerging human infections start in animals, and there’s a lot we can do to reduce spillover risk, but the world is doing very little of it. Live-animal markets are one place to act. For instance, closing live-bird markets helped control H7N9 influenza in China. Reducing opportunities for people to encounter infected animals can prevent infections before they become outbreaks. In The Formula for Better Health, which is now out in paperback along with the hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook versions, I argue that labs do too many risky experiments with too many dangerous pathogens in too many institutions, and that every experiment should first answer one basic question: Is the likely benefit greater than the risk? Spillover risk can also be reduced: In the book, I discuss how Brazil cut its deforestation rate by 70% from 2004 to 2012 while increasing agricultural production and reducing risky contact between people and forest animals. We need faster detection and response. Delay costs lives. Strong surveillance, good labs, and trained responders can turn a single case into a small cluster of infections instead of an epidemic. Resolve to Save Lives has worked for nearly a decade to help countries find and stop outbreaks faster. The 7-1-7 target, which Resolve to Save Lives developed with partners in Uganda and elsewhere, provides a clear standard: detect within 7 days, notify within 1 day and complete all essential early response actions within 7 days. In Uganda’s Kasese district, for example, a review of a measles outbreak using 7-1-7 identified shortages of accessible funds, fuel, and vehicles that delayed the response. District leaders established funds they could access quickly. When, a few months later, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever appeared, the district detected it in three days, notified authorities in one, and mounted an effective response in two. Only one case was confirmed, and the patient survived. Because funds were available before the emergency, authorities were prepared and able to act. This kind of preparation can’t wait until the next crisis begins. Plague is an old disease we that know how to stop. The next threat may be harder to recognize, harder to treat, and easier to spread. Safer labs, less risk of spillover, and faster outbreak detection and response need sustained investment now, while we still have time to prevent the next emergency. Share
Hackers disguise phishing as promising business opportunities
Fake requests for quotation lure sales and procurement staff to phishing pages, with nearly 73% of RFQ lures targeting credentials.
Are Business Services Stocks Lagging NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NIQ) This Year?
Here is how NIQ Global Intelligence plc (NIQ) and ScanSource (SCSC) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.
Billy Joel say's he can't perform again after neurologist's warning
Billy Joel says he can't perform on his neurologist's advice and needs further testing to determine whether he can return to the stage.
Crown Sports Center is the Perfect Place for Proactive Entertainment and Games
We're exploring Crown Sports Center and discover why it's the perfect place for all manner of entertainment, games, and skill development.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra Review: Complicated, yet So Damn Worth Getting Stuck In
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra isn't just a MacBook Pro for PCs. It's a strong sign that local compute power is what we actually need in the so-called "AI era."
The Surface Laptop Ultra delivers on most of Microsoft's promises
Microsoft promises one machine for dev, AI, and gaming, and mostly gets there.
I've lived with Microsoft's $6,000 Surface Laptop Ultra, and it's so close to being the best MacBook Pro alternative you can buy
Microsoft's top of the line Windows 11 PC is finally here, and it's giving the MacBook Pro a real good run for its money.
J. Harrison Ghee Exits Oh, Mary! Tour to Focus on Health Recovery
Alaska Thunderf*ck and John-Andrew Morrison will continue to lead the tour through early 2027, with further casting to be announced.
Two of California's most powerful politicians still haven't weighed in on Prop 40
Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi have yet to weigh in on the most divisive ballot measure before California voters: Prop 40, likely for the same reason that Gavin Newsom opposes the measure.
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) Could Be 8% Undervalued As Cash Flow Hopes Build
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) is back in focus after its recent share performance, with the stock closing at US$29.25. Investors are weighing this price against mixed return figures across different time frames. Short-term momentum for Caesars Entertainment has been soft, with the share price return down over the past month. However, the year-to-date share price return of 24.15% and 1-year total shareholder return of 34.61% contrast sharply with a 5-year total shareholder return that is still...
Adam Schiff Warns AI-Generated Political Ads Are Making It Harder to Know What’s Real Ahead of Midterm Elections: 'Congress Can't Afford to Sit on the Sidelines'
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned that deceptive artificial intelligence-generated political advertisements could mislead voters and interfere with elections, urging Congress to address the growing t...
Blake Butera’s Year One Gave the Nationals Reason for Optimism
Blake Butera's first season as a manager in the big leagues was not perfect, but did provide a positive outlook for the Washington Nationals going forward.
'White' dwarf stars can be purple, pink and even green, surprising new study finds
Stellar remnants called white dwarfs appear to come in a rainbow of colors, according to a new study.
Opinion: Healthcare isn’t just a business expense. It’s a business strategy.
The highest-value healthcare dollar is spent before someone gets ill, writes Henry Ford Health CEO Bob Riney.
Opinion: Healthcare isn’t just a business expense. It’s a business strategy.
The highest-value healthcare dollar is spent before someone gets ill, writes Henry Ford Health CEO Bob Riney.
University of Michigan approves new $100M sports medicine institute in Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan Board of Regents has approved plans for a 100,000-square-foot sports medicine institute in south Ann Arbor that will bring specialized care, surgery, rehabilitation, and athletic performance services under one roof.
They've done it. Scientists have found a green star. Here's the science behind the new discovery and the technicolour cosmos | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Astronomers have discovered that white dwarf stars can glow a variety of different colours, including the first known star that glows green.
In DOGE’s aftermath, federal health workers bristle at new performance reviews
Changes to the annual performance review process are the latest flashpoint in tensions between federal workers across the Department of Health and Human Services and the Trump administration, federal employees told STAT.
Blame Snapdragon: An Exynos-powered Galaxy S27 Ultra is now more likely than ever
Samsung might be forced to ship the Galaxy S27 Ultra with Exynos instead of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 due to performance issues.
Maple Leafs’ Kirill Marchenko Makes Unexpected Claim After Sabres Loss
One of the few bright spots for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, October 15, was Kirill Marchenko’s performance.The 26-year-old forward scored his first hat trick with the Toronto franchise, helping the Leafs take a 4-2 lead.However, Jim Hiller’s team let their guard down, and following John Tavares’ […] The post Maple Leafs’ Kirill Marchenko Makes Unexpected Claim After Sabres Loss appeared first on HEAVY.
Eagles Select Standout SEC Defender In 2027 NFL Mock Draft
Approaching the midway mark of October, it’s starting to become mock draft season in the NFL world. Since the Philadelphia Eagles are potentially just a few more losses away from reaching a selling point, it seems like the perfect time to glance at some potential additions from the rookie pool. In Pro Football Focus’s first […] The post Eagles Select Standout SEC Defender In 2027 NFL Mock Draft appeared first on HEAVY.
New Business Licenses: 10.16.26
Chesterfield reports physical therapy, emergency readiness consulting, a music academy and more. (BizSense Pro required)
Choose hope, family and friends over politicians, say leaders during Interfaith Forum at Salt Lake Tabernacle
Martin Luther King III, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Nobel Prize leader call for hope in connection
Comic Con cosplayers weigh in on politics
'Jesse Watters Primetime' hits New York Comic Con to get colorful cosplayers' unfiltered takes on politics and the latest headlines.
Tesla’s new Roadster makes a flying debut, hitting 60 MPH in under a second
Tesla unveiled its long-anticipated Roadster on Thursday during a dramatic event in which the vehicle used compressed-air thrusters to fly off a ramp and perform a midair maneuver.
‘I’m Not Allowed to Drive’: Billy Joel Shares Health Update as He Prepares to Sell Vintage Motorcycles
The singer was diagnosed with a brain disorder and stepped away from live performances last year
Microsoft AI CEO says new model beats OpenAI using less compute
Microsoft AI CEO said its latest AI model outperforms an OpenAI base model on certain pre-training metrics using a quarter of the compute.
Biketoberfest brings economic boost to Daytona Beach small businesses
Biketoberfest has kicked off in Daytona Beach, drawing motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world and providing a much-needed economic lift for local businesses.
RFK Jr. vows to bring Pennsylvania measles outbreak to a quick close
The state has reported six measles-associated deaths as part of a recent outbreak
UW-River Falls to offer Halloween carnival and “Haunted Lab” science demonstrations Oct. 20
RIVER FALLS – Two special Halloween-themed events are planned at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Tuesday, Oct. 20, including a Halloween carnival and “Haunted Labs” science …
Cattle futures higher waiting on direct business
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were up, optimistic about the week’s direct business. Direct cash cattle trade activity was relatively quiet on Thursday. There was a lone bid that surfaced in Kansas at $226 live, but the rest of cattle country has been quiet. It appears sellers are holding out for […]
Eagles’ Jalen Hurts has blood clot: How serious is injury?
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss Sunday’s game against the Panthers because of a superficial blood clot, the team announced Thursday.
IAFF Center of Excellence welcomes new medical director, Dr. Kenneth Richter
Dr. Kenneth Richter, a respected psychiatrist and decorated retired U.S. Navy captain, is the new medical director of the IAFF Center of Excellence for
The Walt Disney Company and Dude Perfect Announce Company-Wide Creative Partnership
Dude Perfect will develop original content for its own channels inspired by Disney franchises and events, with select Dude Perfect content also on Disney+.
SGMC Health Honors Lorino and Tovar with Safe Care Award
SGMC Health recognized Tom Lorino, CCP, LP, RRT, Perfusionist at SGMC Health Main, and Student Perfusionist Erik Tovar as the latest recipients of the Safe Care Award.
IP Saves the Day On Streaming
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get started, I wanted to highlight a new idea I saw from Real Good AI, proposing a ratings system for AI use. (H/T to Anthony Kaufman’s article highlighting this.) It would look something like this: In general, I think that this is a solid, middle-ground solution that should appease both the pro-AI camp (who love AI) and the anti-AI camp (who wants to know if what they’re watching didn’t come from humans). Regardless of your feelings on AI/LLMs—I’ll never use it for my writing—transparency is often the best solution to many problems. In general, I think way more media outlets need to be using way more AI disclosures. My quick “Yes and...” to this idea: what about ads? In particular, I hate it when I see or hear ads that are obviously AI-generated, but a person or voice says, “I used this product”. AI doesn’t use products! Just today, I watched a YouTube ad where a “person” said they use some sort of rain wind chime...but that’s not a real person! They didn’t use this product. (Especially since the video of the wind chime itself also appeared to be AI-generated...) I believe most traditional advertising already has standards like this anyway.1 Okay, on to this week’s issue. We’re covering the week of 14-Sep, and then next issue, I’ll be fully caught up with Nielsen’s new release schedule. In the future, I plan to put out Streaming Ratings Reports each Monday after Nielsen’s Thursday releases. Overall, we had some big new shows this week, like Prime Video’s Reacher spinoff_, Neagley_, which is off to a big, big start, and Netflix’s latest in its Monster anthology, which is their largest opening since June and the second-largest since One Piece came out in March. All that, plus Slow Horses returns, the trio of returning shows (Lioness, Reacher and Ted Lasso) continue to dominate the top tens, Paramount+’s latest crime drama, a big whiff for a Netflix original film and a precipitous drop for Netflix film charts, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of September 14th to September 20th 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - IP For the TV Win Can I use the dirty word of entertainment journalism right now? IP. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone I said it. But IP works at the box office, and we’ve seen some evidence it works in TV too. Not as well, and not all the time—no absolutes here!—but often enough. And glancing at the Nielsen top ten…it worked this week! Take Prime Video, who has a monster hit in the crime drama Reacher. Would a spinoff work for that show? Yep! They binge-released Neagley, about a detective from the original Reacher series, and its eight episodes debuted to 29.6 million hours. Here’s how it stacks up to Reacher, one of Prime Video’s biggest shows: That’s great. Nearly as strong as Reacher’s opening! (Both shows started with eight, binge-released episodes, so this comparison is apples-to-apples.) Notably, Prime Video scheduled the debut of Neagley to overlap with Reacher’s most recent season, to help drive tune-in. Obviously, I love smart release strategies like that. And even though I wrote “obviously”, it’s not really that obvious, since streamers don’t often take advantage of natural overlaps like this_._2 Other data backs how well Neagley performed. It opened at second place on Samba TV for two weeks and got 51.7 million hours on Luminate. That’s the eleventh biggest opening on Luminate since May of 2024 and tied with Bridgerton’s third season opening. That’s a huge opening! Its IMDb is solid too, a 7.7 on 24K reviews. Netflix’s latest edition in the “Monster” series—which started with Jeffrey Dahmer and comes from Ryan Murphy—did well too, opening to 24.7 million hours. That’s the biggest opening for Netflix since I Will Find You in June, and second biggest since March. Unlike the Reacher series, this franchise is trending downward, though. The first Monster show—Dahmer - Monster—was giant. More than anything, I think this reflects that Netflix running out of extremely popular—if that’s the right word?—serial killers to feature. Still, the data says this is a very good opening. It made it to third place on Samba TV for two weeks. It also opened to 40.0 million hours on Luminate. That’s not quite as elite as Neagley, but still very, very strong. I’ll be honest: my priors coming into any given week are that IP works to help drive buzz for new shows, but TV shows need to stand on their own even more than movies, so they will succeed or fail based on their quality. But these two spinoffs definitely worked. Quick Notes on TV The top show, film or special this week? Football, again. Specifically, Prime Video’s season opener of Thursday Night Football. The games run long (three hours) but mainly a lot of people watch each game. That adds up to a lot of viewership. Paramount released the second season of MobLand on an unusual day for that service, a Friday! Often, they put their new shows out on a Sunday, as they did last year with a run of shows (Lioness, Tulsa King and Landman). MobLand didn’t make Nielsen in its first week, but on Samba TV it got to eighth and seventh place. Luminate had a smaller opening too, only 5.3 million hours. MobLand missed the Nielsen charts for its first eight weeks, so this season is off to a stronger start. (Bonus note: the first season streams on both Prime Video and The Roku Channel, but I only have it as Paramount+ on those charts.) I’ve mentioned a few times that foreign-language originals do lower numbers than English-language originals on Netflix most of the time. But I don’t usually emphasize what country those originals come from, and observationally, they tend to be from Western or Northern European countries, in general. So credit to Not a Stranger, a Turkish Netflix original, for breaking through on Luminate, getting to 7.9 million hours in its first full week on those charts. As I mentioned last issue, Crew Girl ended up making the Nielsen charts in its second week. That’s still a soft performance compared to many shows, but again this, one looks affordable. And if you’re curious, here’s how it stacks up to some other sports romance shows: 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… …about a new data source and how it drives streaming viewership… ...what reality show is struggling in its latest season…. ...what Netflix film bombed…. ...How Reacher, Ted Lasso, and Lioness are doing on the charts… ...what obscure sport put up great viewership numbers… …how far streaming films are falling… …all the flops, bombs and misses for the last week… …and more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue. Coming Soon! Next week, we’ve got a double issue, then we’ll be all caught up with Nielsen’s data. Yes! The goal is to have my report out on the Monday after I get Nielsen’s data. So next issue, I’m looking at East of Eden, The Great British Baking Show, a Willy Wonka game show (that people are upset uses AI, but viewers might not care), and a Cosby show spinoff reboot on Netflix, and Brothers on Apple TV (starring Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey). That’s about it for TV, but who’s going to win the streaming week, The Breadwinner or Backrooms on streaming? Answer: Toy Story 5. Plus Netflix has a Unabomber film and a new Tyler Perry film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma tries to repeat The Substance’s run on MUBI, and Paramount+ has Jackass: Best and Last. Long term, Netflix is remaking Lonesome Dove. I love this choice, but man, there are a lot of westerns on TV right now. And they’re making Sega TV shows, including a Crazy Taxi TV show and Sonic show with an “edge”.
Michigan needs more behavioral health professionals
When a policy makes it harder for a student to become a social worker, the impact does not end with that student.
Women Who Rock concert returns to support health research
Taylor Dayne and other performers will take the Stage AE stage Oct. 17 for a benefit supporting women's health research.
Fired deputy behavioral health commissioner charged with felony theft in tuition scheme
A former deputy commissioner of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration is accused of stealing from her previous employer, a nonprofit that helps foster children
Trump administration advances plan for peptide drugs favored by RFK Jr.
Peptides are essentially unproven, unapproved, injectable drugs.
Disney Inks Major Creator Deal With Dude Perfect (Exclusive)
The Texas-based sports creators and the media company have signed a wide-ranging partnership that will span entertainment, sports, consumer products and experiences.
Billy Joel says he can't drive, perform in new health update
Billy Joel says he can't drive or perform amid his ongoing struggle with the brain condition normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Hot Ticket: Art, athletics and pride take over Galveston
Artfully done: Downtown Galveston will transform into an outdoor art gallery this weekend as the 25th annual ARToberFEST returns to the historic district.
Alexander Volkanovski suggests 'winner-take-all fight' vs Justin Gaethje
Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski proposed a “winner-take-all” superfight against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje to cap their careers.
MOSI Spooky Science & dental hygiene month
FOX 13's Regina Gonzalez takes us front row to MOSI's Spooktacular Science and talks to an expert about dental hygiene.
Enhancing hidden defects to strengthen metal materials
Scientists have found a way to use defects in crystals to engineer stronger materials, according to a new study.These imperfections, usually caused by tiny distortions within the material, could be a powerful design tool for building complex, three-dimensional structures.Using a two-step process to strengthen a pair of metal alloys, researchers ...
Justin Ishbia warns Chicago against the ‘cost of doing nothing’ amid Railyards backlash
The White Sox minority owner spoke today for the first time in a public forum since unveiling his plans for an 80-plus acre riverfront campus.
NASA Satellites Observe Historic 2026 El Niño
A phenomenon rarer than a solar eclipse and more powerful than any single storm system is unfolding this fall, and NASA is tracking it closely.
California students post gains in math, science and English in 2025-26
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California students made gains across key academic and success measures during the 2025-26 school year, with test scores rising in English, math and science while the statewide graduation rate reached a record high of 87.9 percent. For the first time, the state released assessment results and California School Dashboard data together to give families and educators a more complete picture of student performance.English language arts scores increased 0.5 percentage points to 49.3 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced, while math scores rose 1.1 percentage points to 38.4 percent. Science showed the strongest improvement, jumping 3.3 percentage points to 36 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced.The statewide chronic absenteeism rate dropped 1.1 percentage points to 18.3 percent. The suspension rate declined to 2.8 percent, marking the third consecutive year of improvement."At a time when California continues to focus on accelerating learning and closing opportunity gaps, these results provide important evidence that our sustained investments are making a difference," Gov. Gavin Newsom said. "The continued progress we are seeing is a testament to the hard work of students, families and educators across the state—and we will continue working to build on these gains."The percentage of students prepared for college and career increased to 55.2 percent, up 2 percentage points from the previous year. More than 54 percent of graduates completed coursework required for admission to University of California and California State University systems, an increase of 0.9 percentage points."California has made important strides in expanding student supports and opportunities, but the pace of academic improvement reminds us that our work is far from finished," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said.Eighth grade students posted the strongest score trends in both English language arts and math. Science performance improved across all tested grades, with the strongest gains at the high school level.African American students demonstrated larger-than-average improvements across English, math and science. Hispanic or Latino students showed larger-than-average improvements in English and math, with positive math score trends across all grades.Students who were socioeconomically disadvantaged made gains across all 3 subjects, including larger-than-average improvements in English and math. Students who were homeless continued to demonstrate gains across grades, with particularly strong improvements in math."We are encouraged to see students making gains across all 3 major assessments and are especially encouraged by the progress of African American students, Hispanic or Latino students, socioeconomically disadvantaged students and homeless youth," said Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the California State Board of Education.The progress comes as California's public school system undergoes significant demographic change. Statewide school enrollment declined to approximately 5.73 million students in 2025-26, nearly 500-thousand fewer students over the past decade.The number of students with disabilities increased approximately 25 percent over the same period, from about 680-thousand to more than 850-thousand students. Graduation rates increased across nearly all student groups, including notable increases for American Indian or Alaskan Native students at 4.3 percentage points and students with disabilities at 3.7 percentage points.In Downey Unified School District, the rate of students demonstrating proficient or advanced grade-level knowledge increased by 2.1 percentage points in English, 2.8 percentage points in math and 4.7 percentage points in science. The district aligned graduation requirements with college admission expectations and invested in inclusive special education practices, expanded career technical education and expanded learning opportunities."The gains Downey Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of years of focused, consistent work across the district," Superintendent Roger Brossmer said.In Exeter Unified School District, proficiency rates increased by 4.6 percentage points in English, 2.3 percentage points in math and 3.6 percentage points in science. The district placed a strong focus on phonics and the science of reading, particularly in kindergarten through second grade."The gains Exeter Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of having great people who are focused on the right work, and great students who want to do well," Superintendent Melanie Dorough said.Union Elementary School District saw proficiency rates increase by 1.5 percentage points in English, 2 percentage points in math and 4 percentage points in science. Teachers regularly analyze state and local assessment data to guide instruction, supported by strong core instruction and early literacy strategies."Union Elementary School District's achievement gains reflect a focused, data-driven approach to meeting the needs of every student while fostering a strong sense of belonging, safety and connection," Superintendent Carrie Andrews said.The California Department of Education is examining local results to better understand strategies and conditions associated with stronger student outcomes. The state has made significant investments in recent years, including literacy and math coaching, tutoring, expanded learning opportunities, community schools and universal transitional kindergarten.
Pete Hartweger Provides Legal Perspective at Exit Planning Institute Business Owner Forum
Spencer Fane attorney Pete Hartweger presented at the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) Kansas City Chapter’s annual Business Owner Forum on September 2 in
Butterfly Network Co-Founder Named Engineering VP at Science Corp.
Science Corporation has appointed Nevada Sanchez as executive vice president of engineering. He'll report to CEO/Co-Founder Max Hodak.
Biketoberfest brings safety patrols, business boost to Daytona Beach
With thousands of people coming in for the event, deputies will patrol for unsafe driving, and businesses will see a key offseason revenue boost.
HOMETOWN HEALTH: What is pneumonic plague? UVA health expert discusses concerns after Siberia lab death
The death has raised questions about what happened and how, and whether the disease poses a risk to the United States.
RWJBARNABAS HEALTH NAMES DR. ERWIN WANG, MD, MHA, SFHM, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PHYSICIAN PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
RWJBarnabas Health has appointed Erwin Wang, MD, MHA, SFHM, as Senior Vice President of Physician Performance Improvement. In this newly created role, Dr. Wang will lead physician-driven initiatives to enhance clinical quality, patient safety, and value-based care across the health system.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 Review: The Prettiest, Most Comfortable Handheld You Can Buy
The OLED Xbox Ally looks, feels, and plays better than ever. That doesn’t mean it's offering the best performance.
Essentia Health-Ada recognized by Vizient as a top performing hospital
Essentia Health-Ada is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a top performing hospital in the 2026 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Ranking by Vizient.
Atrium Health to invest $340 million to expand regional behavioral health
Atrium Health is committing $340 million over five years to expand behavioral health services across the Charlotte region.
Andrew Garfield, Elizabeth Holmes are set to crash the Oscar race
NEW YORK – After nearly three whirlwind weeks, the New York Film Festival drew to a close Oct. 12 – and with it, we got newfound clarity about this year’s
OC students continue to outpace state averages as math and science scores rise
Quick look: Newly released data show Orange County students continuing to outperform statewide averages in English language arts, mathematics and science, with notable gains in math and science. Th…
RFK Jr.’s Chimpanzee Conspiracy Theory
The health secretary believes that a common respiratory virus leaked from a government lab.
Billy Joel Offers Health Update Ahead of Motorcycle Collection Auction
The singer discusses living with hydrocephalus, his hopes of performing again and why he’s auctioning more than 70 bikes at Christie's: “I was not a collector. I was actually a rider.”
Activision's Head Marketer Says Modern Warfare 4 Faces A 'Call Of Duty Tax'
The newest sequel needs to bolster flagging engagement
Clinton Policy Institute outlines maternal health solutions for states
Health Care Clinton Policy Institute outlines maternal health solutions for states It’s the first major report from the project, which launched in July to foster nonpartisan policies to improve the wellbeing of children and families. Stephanie Akin 10:00 AM, Oct 15, 2026 Dr. Jacob Lenz performs an ultrasound at the Oklahoma State University obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Tulsa, Okla., on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon) The Clinton Policy Institute is calling on states to lead efforts to curb maternal mortality, releasing a 61-page playbook Thursday highlighting successful policies that could be adopted nationwide. The playbook is the first major report from the Clinton Foundation’s project, which launched in July to foster nonpartisan state and local policies to improve the wellbeing of children and families. “Eighty percent of maternal deaths are preventable, and we know what works,” CPI Chair Jennifer Klein said. “The solutions are well established and evidence-based.” CPI’s mission is to convene political leaders from both parties, policy experts, state officials and other stakeholders to explore solutions to longstanding problems. “What we aim to do is bring together people who are deeply engaged, but may not be meeting together in the same room,” Klein said, noting that state policymakers might not always be aware of what their peers are doing in other states. In May, CPI brought together lawmakers from Virginia and Pennsylvania, two of the 14 states that have passed bipartisan maternal health “Momnibus” packages modeled after a comprehensive federal proposal that has repeatedly stalled, called the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. Other participants included Dr. Mona Hanna, founder of Rx Kids, a Michigan program that provides direct cash allowances to pregnant women and infants. Pennsylvania Rep. Morgan Cephas, who was part of the group, said she learned about funding opportunities she hadn’t come across during her decade in the Legislature. “As legislators we can issue grants, we can pass legislation, we can move policy, but we want to ensure that funding opportunities and programs that are tackling this issue are sustainable,” Cephas said. The playbook outlines broad areas where state policy can make a difference, such as allowing Medicaid to pay for doulas and remote patient monitoring, and using federal and private grant funding to pay for home visits to pregnant and postpartum women. For each category, it highlights innovative programs that can serve as models, with examples of specific actions state lawmakers and governors’ offices can take. Those include the Rx Kids model, which gets funding from the Michigan state budget; Pennsylvania’s Healthy Moms Vibrant Futures strategic action plan, emphasizing equity-centered maternal care, regional collaboration, Medicaid innovation, and workforce development that was launched this year with more than 160 stakeholders; and Kansas’s Bridging Plan, which reserves three slots and provides at least $26,000 in loan forgiveness for obstetric residents who commit to practicing in rural or underserved communities for 36 months. CPI emphasizes that its work is nonpartisan. Klein, the director of the White House Gender Policy Council under former President Joe Biden, acknowledged that CPI also takes positions on abortion, Medicaid funding, and the need to address the economic and social drivers of poor health, which might rankle some conservatives. “We don’t shy away from talking about those things that we think are part and parcel of the maternal health crisis in this country,” Klein said. “That said, there are so many policies that are both evidence-based and have been tried successfully in both red and blue states, and people can see that they can have real impact.” She pointed to the federal option to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months that was made available during the Biden administration and has since been adopted by every state but Arkansas. Other initiatives embraced across party lines include Medicaid coverage for midwives and doulas, as well as “bundled” payments for prenatal and postpartum care. That alternative payment model, pioneered in states such as Arkansas, Colorado and Tennessee, incentivizes fixed fees to cover all healthcare services associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Advocates say it promotes more coordination among caregivers, discourages unnecessary interventions, and expands postpartum support. In addition to maternal health, the initiative is also focused on addressing family economic security, children’s well-being, and democracy and civic resilience.
Paris Paloma shares spellbinding set at The Sylvee
Paris Paloma performed at The Sylvee as a part of “The Fatal Flaw” tour, singing to themes of feminism, toxic masculinity and shared female resilience
‘No offense to Zelda’ but GTA 6 and COD Modern Warfare 4 are ‘the two biggest games of the year’, Activision exec says
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Trump says people who leak military plans ‘should be shot’
Trump attacked those leaking material to the media, calling them the "scum of the earth" during a rally in Bullhead City, Arizona.
Thursday Morning Links
Morning, all! The Rangers’ outfielders were a collective bust in 2026, with Evan Carter showing elite defense in center field and superlatively poor performance at the plate and Wyatt Langford continuing a downward trend. Four Rangers were named finalists forthe Gold Glove award. The Brewers have taken a 3-0 lead in the NLCS and are […]
How This Zombie Foot is Helping Scientists Fight Stingray Strikes
Warm El Niño waters are driving an increase in stingray injuries. These labs are devoted to understanding what’s going on under the surface.
Precision weather radar visualization requires better science, not just new tech
Learn how multi-source atmospheric science, GRAF modeling, and precision weather radar visualization create a more accurate representation of surface weather.
Brazil investigates Amazon wildfires that disrupt daily life and have fueled political attacks
Brazilian authorities are investigating whether a recent surge in Amazon wildfires was orchestrated.
Docktober invites folks to join citizen scientists in peeking under docks
In the month of October, naturalist Luan Roberts organizes events and encourages everyone to look at the wildlife living under their local docks and report what they see. She's on a mission to get more people involved in the emerging citizen science known as “dock fouling.”
RFP alert: New York State announces over $37 million for cleantech business accelerators
The newly established Commercialization Cohort Initiative seeks to launch four business accelerators to train, mentor and fund clean energy startups and entrepreneurs.
The Politics of Heat, Homes, and Lobster Boats.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Bank. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—The candidates’ forum focusing on House District 15 and incumbent Holly Eaton and Clifford Noyes last week spent a lot of time on the candidates’ thought of heating, communication with constituents, property taxes, education costs, and other issues. It also was a time for the community to ask their own questions and see two candidates up close and personal at the Southwest Harbor Fire Department firehouse. Jim Vallette organized the hour-long event, which was moderated by Carrie Jones of the Bar Harbor Story. Ken Rozsahegyi provided technical support for the congenial event. House District 15 serves Brooklin, Deer Isle, Eagle Island Township, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, Marshall Island, Southwest Harbor, Stonington, Swan's Island, Tremont, and Vinalhaven. Jones advised as she began the question and answer part of the event, ”Treat everyone here like they are going to be the ones who might give you a ride in a rainstorm, pull your pet out of a burning building, or be the one grading your kids’ papers at school, okay?” She continued. “That’s it. Tonight isn’t meant to be a gotcha debate. The goal is to give people in the district a chance to get to know both candidates, hear what they care about, and understand what they’d actually try to accomplish in Augusta.” The questions and discussion throughout were kind. Eaton currently serves in the position. She’s a Democrat from Deer Isle, raised in a fishing family and has worked in nonprofits and volunteered for her school board. Noyes is unenrolled (politically) and from Southwest Harbor and currently a school board member, self employed as a mason. He focused on fiscal issues throughout the forum. Eventually, at Jones’ prompting, the candidates played “Rock, Paper, Scissors” for who would go first for their closing statements. Noyes used the opportunity to urge others to head to the ballot. “Whether you vote for me or Holly, it’s important that people vote,” Noyes said. He hoped the voter turnout in the district would be over 35 percent because that would mean people were truly engaged. Eaton stressed that she’s a Democrat, but in Augusta, her role isn’t about party. “I am a Democrat, but when I go to Augusta, I am there to represent the people of District 15. I want people to feel as though I’m accessible, that I’m responsive, and that I show up for the district,” Eaton said. Being there for others was vital, she explained. “When something comes before me in Augusta, I try to look at it through the lens of the people and the communities that I represent. How will this affect the people who live here? Does it make it easier or harder to raise a family here, to operate a small business, to work on the water, to afford a home, to keep our schools open, or provide the essential services our communities depend on?” Eaton said. Noyes spoke about fiscal responsibility and about the state being more responsive to communities and the ideas that come from them. “I feel that we desperately need to restore some fiscal sanity, a little bit. So when the legislature meets again,” Noyes said, “it could be critical for Maine residents that we don’t keep digging this hole that we’re in financially and keep raising our taxes so the struggling families struggle even more.” The two answered a series of questions from Jones, then answered questions from the audience and participants via Zoom. Jones asked what they heard the most from people about what was making their lives hard and what can the legislature in Augusta do it about those issues. Both spoke to concerns about heating oil costs. Noyes spoke to the three H’s: health, home, and heat. Eaton and Noyes spoke to the burdens of families with lower incomes, with Eaton mentioning LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). They both were in favor of free community college and trade programs. They both supported the working waterfront. Both said that data centers—such as the one proposed in Eastport, which is out of the district—should be a local decision, but neither were in favor of it. The working waterfront was supported by both. Eaton’s served on the Maine Marine Resource Committee in the legislature. She advocated a diversity of fishing resources and less of a reliance on lobstering. Shrimp, she hoped, would make a comeback. Noyes worried about out-of-state pressure on the lobstering industry, also spoke of shrimp harvesting timings, and said he supported the lobstering industry. QUICK NOTE Carrie Jones is, obviously, the co-founder of the Bar Harbor Story, which made us have a bit of a hard time putting out this story and thinking it through and how to present it. We ended up with this article. The debate in its entirety is below, many thanks to Ken and Jim for making it publicly available. UPCOMING AND PAST EVENTS The following events are or were organized by the League of Women Voters Downeast. DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISTRICT 13 Thursday, Oct 15, 2026 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM Candidate Forum: House District 13 125 State St , Ellsworth Featuring candidates Michael Cunningham (D) and Russell White (R), moderated by Cyndi Wood, managing editor of the Ellsworth American. DEMOCRACY FORUM Friday, Oct 16, 2026 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Democracy Forum — Election 2026: What’s on Your Ballot 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/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ Feeling Stressed? Kids’ Corner Invites Parents, Educators, and Caregivers to Rediscover the Joy with National Speaker Raelene Ostberg Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/feeling-stressed-kids-corner-invites) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ Mainely Meat’s Pink Party for Breast Cancer Awareness is October 18! Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/mainely-meats-pink-party-for-breast) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ Conners Emerson School Announces Public Surplus Property Sale Oct 14 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/conners-emerson-school-announces) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ Planting the Writer’s Garden 12:15 AM ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/planting-the-writers-garden) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) [ Artist Maria de los Angeles explores migration and belonging in COA public lecture 12:19 AM ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/artist-maria-de-los-angeles-explores) 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
Lights, curtains, spirits? Inside The Ritz's paranormal past
The building has hosted entertainment venues for 100 years, and some say there are members of the audience and performers who have never left.
Lights, curtains, spirits? Inside The Ritz's paranormal past
The building has hosted entertainment venues for 100 years, and some say there are members of the audience and performers who have never left.
Nvidia’s RTX Spark PCs Aren’t a Revolution, but They May Change Laptops Forever
Get ready for the MacBook Pro-ification of PCs. The real test will be how they perform with all the emulation and AI running inside.
Science Wizard David Hagerman to perform extreme science at Knollwood School
Renowned science wizard David Hagerman brings magic to learning at Knollwood School
Companies pledge free software and computing for AI in science
The European Commission has announced that a group of companies and foundations will offer free services, such as software or access to supercomputers, to European scientists using AI in their research.Unveiled on October 15 at a conference in Dublin, the initiative is the latest step by the Commission to try to help researchers use the technology. Scientists have used forms of AI, such as machine learning, for decades. But advances in deep learning in the past decade, and the wider interest in large language models since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, have spurred governments to invest in new AI tools that could help the scientific process.In July, the US announced it is spending $5 billion on the Genesis Mission, which it describes as a “national effort to harness AI for science,” funding 278 projects across areas such as autonomous labs or new AI tools in astronomy. The Commission has also identified AI in science as a priority, but the €107 million it pledged from Horizon Europe in 2025 does not come close to US spending levels. That said, the vast majority of public research spending in the EU comes from national funds. Today’s announcement at the European AI in Science Summit doesn’t commit any new public money. Instead, it launches the AI in Science Enablers Initiative, a set of voluntary contributions from companies and foundations. The idea is that the companies also benefit by getting access to scientific ecosystems, and feedback on how their tools work. Google, for example, has put up €3 million of cloud computing credits to European researchers. The Novo Nordisk Foundation intends to make its supercomputer, Gefion, available to European researchers, according to the Commission statement. The chipmaker Nvidia said it would provide access to tools, compute, training and collaborative projects.The publisher Elsevier also offered complementary licenses to some of its AI tools, plus AI training for PhD, postdoctoral and master’s students. The French AI firm Mistral will provide the European research community with access to its open-weight models, Vibe seats and application programming interface credits, according to the Commission’s statement. Vibe is one of the firm’s chatbot models. The idea is that more firms and foundations will come on board in the future as the initiative grows.
Vermont seasonal businesses try to make ends meet in a short window
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Democratic group substantially increases fundraising to seize state legislatures
The States Project, an organization focused on electing Democrats to state legislatures, has raised more than $100 million this cycle.