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Science of Speed off to fast start
PITTSBURGH — One month in and Pittsburgh is proving it’s ready to put the pedal to the metal. Since opening Aug. 1, Science of Speed, Powered by Lenovo, at Kamin Science Center has welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors, with 90 percent of racing experiences selling out through the first month of operations. The 21,000-square-foot immersive experience […]
From sweat secretion to pulse analysis: The science behind the Ultimate | News | Budapest 26
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship gets under way in Budapest in the coming days, but the event has been three years in the making.
'The impact would be tenfold' | Mason business owners await improvements downtown
Mason business owners say the Mason Mile has been overlooked despite millions in city investment over nearly two decades.
Acton refuses to engage with Ramaswamy as Ohio debates decline
Democrat Dr. Amy Acton is refusing to debate Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the race to become Ohio's next governor.
Bears need health, production from WR Rome Odunze to form dynamic duo
Their decision to trade DJ Moore to the Bills opened up salary cap space in 2026 and into the future, when the Bears hope they have to pay Caleb Williams like a franchise quarterback. It also put the onus on Odunze and Luther Burden to perform like one of the best receiver pairings in the NFL.
The Business Accenture Now Mentions In Passing
Accenture (ACN) is redirecting where its next growth comes from, and the business underneath is in decent shape. What deserves a second look is what got left behind. Two years ago management was presenting a learning arm it had built itself. On the June 2026 call it survived as one item in a list.
Hammer Realty celebrates 50 years of family-owned business in Wahpeton
Third-generation owner Jessie Hammer carries on her family’s legacy while looking toward the future of the local real estate company.
Missouri Supreme Court puts referendum to overturn new congressional map on ballot
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the state's voters will decide the fate of a plan aimed at ousting Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II.
Elon Musk’s political machine begins spending to help Susan Collins
The spending, disclosed in a federal filing this week, marks the first concrete sign of money flowing into Maine from the world’s richest man.
Paid parking proposal for Olde Town Arvada draws outcry from business owners
A proposal by the City of Arvada to implement paid parking in Olde Town has drawn alarm from local business owners, who say that doing so could cause them to
Judge strikes down Trump administration lawsuit against trans-inclusive sports in California
The Department of Justice had sought to strip California of $44 billion if schools didn’t eject trans girls from girls’ sports teams.
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow mail-in ballot restrictions
The question of whether President Donald Trump’s restrictions can move forward in time for November’s midterm elections has been the subject of a dizzying legal battle in recent weeks.
Nets’ Brown Jr. Receives Praise From Fellow Louisville Alum
Donovan Mitchell draws comparisons to James Harden while hailing the rookie’s elite basketball IQ, signaling a new era of playmaking and defensive versatility for the Brooklyn backcourt.
Democrats eye expanded Medicare coverage if they take U.S. House
Reversing Medicaid cuts and restoring ACA subsidies top the list, but Democrats are also talking about lowering the age of eligibility for Medicare benefits.
Democrats eye expanded Medicare coverage if they take U.S. House
Reversing Medicaid cuts and restoring ACA subsidies top the list, but Democrats are also talking about lowering the age of eligibility for Medicare benefits.
Scientists Recreated the Long-Lost Chirps of Jurassic Insects. Listen to the Simulated Soundscape of 165 Million Years Ago
With artificial intelligence and careful modeling of fossilized wings, researchers reproduced how some extinct, katydid-like insects might have made noise
Abdul El-Sayed is the latest Muslim candidate to labeled an anti-American extremist.
The bigoted rhetoric against Muslim American politicians is backfiring
SEC files lawsuit against LSU, Lane Kiffin in attempt to block pro players from suiting up for LSU in 2026
Maria Bartiromo is out at Fox News
Bartiromo, who hosted "Sunday Morning Futures" and "Mornings with Maria," has been off the air since August 9.
Maria Bartiromo is out at Fox News
Bartiromo, who hosted "Sunday Morning Futures" and "Mornings with Maria," has been off the air since August 9.
Arts and Entertainment Agenda, Sept. 4 to 10
JAS Labor Day Experience, Sept. 4 to 6 The JAS Labor Day Experience 2026 will take place Sept. 4 to 6 at Snowmass Town Park. Jazz Aspen Snowmass presents the open-air festival, bringing world-class music...
Kissing apes, anti-splash urinals: This year's Ig Nobels showcase surprising science
The Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded this week for humorous yet thought-provoking research. This year, the ceremony came with a twist.
Kissing apes, anti-splash urinals: This year's Ig Nobels showcase surprising science
The Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded this week for humorous yet thought-provoking research. This year, the ceremony came with a twist.
AI suggests new physics experiments that could outperform human-designed setups
Research means asking questions of the universe. For centuries, clever minds have advanced science by devising ingenious experiments designed so their results reveal something about the laws of nature ...
This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition - Jacksonville growth draws Mesa Capital multifamily investment
Independents aren’t just undercover partisans after all
Plus: Why people are drinking less, and who’s best friend is a chatbot?
Why we’re suing to release small business funds Congress already approved
Two small business support organization leaders filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to compel the release of hundreds of millions of dollars in congressional appropriations for the Com…
Anthony Richardson is the Colts' No. 2 quarterback
The Colts have decided on a backup quarterback.
UW pays $600K to settle lawsuit with computer science professor over parody land acknowledgment
Stuart Reges was disciplined by the University of Washington after including a parody land acknowledgment in a course syllabus. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit found university officials violated Reges' academic freedom rights.
Entertainment this week: Petty Theft, Truckee Art Walk, Wild West Fest and more
Friday, September 4 Alex Benjamin & Suika T – 12 p.m.-12 a.m., Palisades Tahoe, 1960 Squaw Valley Rd. Alex Benjamin is a multi-instrumentalist and composer. He has played drums with critically acclaimed Americana band Hiss...
The Athletic finally publishes its internal review of Dianna Russini
It took much longer than expected.
Everything announced at Sony's State of Play September 2026
Here's a full rundown of everything featured during Sony's latest State of Play PS5 showcase, including Wolverine and more.
PlayStation And Xbox Hit Back At Gamer Lawsuits Demanding Tariff Refunds: 'There Is Nothing Unjust About Plaintiff Purchasing An Xbox At An Advertised Price And Getting Exactly What He Paid For'
The companies say there's no proof anyone was harmed
How Silicon Valley used Main Street’s outrage against California privacy law
New changes to the California Internet Privacy Act promise to stop abusive wiretapping suits. They also quietly shield Big Tech from lawsuits.
Sony and Microsoft request dismissal of consumer lawsuits over tariff refunds
Both companies argue they are not legally required to provide refunds to those who bought price-hiked hardware
A ‘Social Network’ follow-up and a ‘Hunger Games’ prequel headline fall movies
Audiences can also catch “Practical Magic 2,” “Sense and Sensibility” and a transformed Tom Cruise on the big screen.
‘Mayday’ review: Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh reboot the buddy movie
Apple TV's 'Mayday' mashes the Cold War with 'Top Gun' and every buddy adventure-comedy you've ever loved and serves it up with stars who appear to be having as much fun as audiences will.
Look out, Hollywood. Influencers are taking over Burbank
As traditional film and TV production keeps shrinking in Los Angeles, YouTube creators are expanding into Burbank's soundstages.
Former NFL CB Alphonso Smith Jr. dies at 40
Alphonso Smith Jr., a former NFL cornerback and the 37th overall pick in the 2009 draft, has died.
Republicans fear Trump will keep super PAC money and not spend on the midterms
President Donald Trump has kept most of his super PAC money on the sidelines and been reticent on his spending plans, worrying Republicans ahead of this fall’s elections.
As SU enrollment drops, international students say U.S. politics spark concern
Law, a political science professor, said it’s difficult to secure admission to a U.S. university as students worry about federal visa changes.
Biopharma needs more data scientists. Who's getting hired?
With U.S. data science jobs projected to grow 35% over the next decade, a recruiter and talent strategy director discuss the qualifications, technical skills and mindset needed to land these coveted positions.
Frontier Developments announces collaboration with Disney for new game
Frontier Developments has entered into an agreement with Disney to develop and publish a new game that draws on Disney’s portfolio of intellectual property, the company announced.
Creator Economy class talks social media business amid expansion
The Center for Creator Economy, SU’s program that teaches students social media, sets itself apart by teaching behind-the-scenes strategy.
Weekly Entertainment Report: Live music and lively arts, Sept. 3-6 » Nashua Ink Link
Music is happening this weekend. Go get some.
Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit challenging California policy allowing biological males in girls’ sports
A federal judge dismissed the Department of Justice lawsuit against California over transgender athletes competing in girls' sports on procedural grounds.
Former caregivers raise alarms about staffing, resident safety at Bakersfield Sevita Health home
Former Sevita Health caregivers in Bakersfield speak out about staffing and safety concerns at a group home for adults with developmental disabilities.
Police make arrest in attempted break-in at Saquon Barkley's home
In July, someone attempted to break in to Eagles running back Saquon Barkley's Philadelphia-area home.
Sony and Microsoft say they’re not obligated to pass U.S. tariff refunds to consumers, echoing Nintendo
Back in July, Sony executives told investors that the company expected to receive $508 million in refunds from the U.S. government, after tariffs that the PlayStation-maker paid were ruled mostly in 2025 were found to be illegal. “Most” of the refund would by recouped by Sony’s gaming division, its chief financial officer said. This week, Sony’s lawyers are arguing that the company is not legally obligated to pass those proceeds on to consumers who paid for recently price-hiked PlayStation consoles. That’s in the face of a lawsuit from gamers calling on them to do exactly that. “Paying fair market price for voluntarily purchased consumer goods is not a legally cognizable injury in fact,” the lawyers wrote in a legal motion filed on Monday, as they asked a judge in California’s Northern District to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit over the tariff refunds. Microsoft made a similar argument two weeks ahead of Sony’s lawyers, in a similar lawsuit brought by a gamer in federal court in Washington State. As Microsoft’s legal team put it on August 21, in their request for a dismissal of that lawsuit: “There is nothing unjust about Plaintiff purchasing an Xbox at an advertised price and getting exactly what he paid for—regardless of whatever theory he devised months later about Microsoft’s cost structure.” Both legal fights are set to go on for some time. How things got to this point U.S. tariffs impacting a wide range of imported goods, including game consoles, had kicked off in early 2025. In May 2025, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles, citing “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” They raised them again that September. In August of that year, Sony raised the price of PlayStation 5 consoles, citing “a challenging economic environment.” Sony later told investors that its tariff fees for the fall quarter were nearly $200 million. in February of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2025 tariffs illegal, prompting impacted companies to begin to request refunds. In turn, consumers began suing the likes of Sony and Microsoft to get what they said was their share. The gamers in the Microsoft and Sony lawsuits argue that the 2025 price hikes of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, which added $50 or more to their sticker price, were due to illegal tariffs and should now be returned to consumers. The Sony suit started in May, when a group of gamers sued in federal court in California, saying Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) would be unjustly enriching itself if it did not pass tariff refunds to its PS5 buyers. “Sony is poised to be paid twice for the same unlawful tariff burden: once by its customers (through elevated prices) and once by the U.S. government (through tariff refunds),” the gamers’ lawyers wrote at the time. They called for Sony to partially reimburse anyone who bought a PlayStation in the U.S. since August 1, 2025. The Microsoft suit, filed by gamer Trevor Hastings against the Xbox giant in July, made similar claims. The console makers push back In late July, Nintendo’s lawyers, facing a similar suit accusing them of double-dipping on tariffs and refunds, replied with arguments that previewed Microsoft’s and Sony’s: “Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” they wrote. Sony has buttressed that Nintendo-style argument this week by saying that the gamers have failed to prove that tariffs were the reason for its August 2025 PS5 price hike. They call thatclaim “speculative and illogical.” Other factors, including “inflation, currency fluctuations, component costs, logistics, competitive dynamics, or demand,” could have played a role. (No, the Sony lawyers do not break down the costs and factors that officially triggered the price increases). Microsoft has also argued that there’s no proof in these lawsuits that tariffs drove all or some of the price increase, as it seeks to dismiss the tariff refund suit it’s facing: “Plaintiff provides no specific allegations that would establish any pricing differential attributable to tariffs or suggest any possibility that Microsoft applied then or could recreate now any dollar-for-dollar calculation of tariff-related pricing—any more than it could any other market factor that affects pricing.” To further skewer the gamer side’s argument in its case, Sony’s lawyers have pointed to what might be a surprising defense: yet another PlayStation 5 price hike from this past spring, after the tariffs were ruled illegal. “If the original price increase were attributable to tariffs, SIE [Sony Interactive Entertainment, aka PlayStation] would have had no reason to raise prices again after the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA tariffs.” … “If tariffs were the cause of the price increases, one would expect SIE to lower prices once the tariffs were eliminated—not raise them again. Instead, the timeline confirms that the pricing of PlayStation consoles includes a diverse and dynamic set of input costs.” Judges have not yet ruled on the arguments made by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Last week, Panic, the company behind the small, yellow Playdate handheld said it would be passing its tariff refunds on to consumers. It is the only gaming hardware maker to have made such a pledge. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: A reporter’s second Second Life Wagner James Au, who from 2003-2006 was paid by San Francisco-based tech company Linden Lab to be a full-time journalist embedded in their virtual world Second Life, is returning to the company. This time, he’ll be an editorial advisor and business development specialist, he tells Game File. The new role will involve trying to share the stories of people inhabiting Second Life’s ongoing online world with reporters and by extension the public. Au plans to continue to also chronicle some of that through his long-running blog New World Notes. I’ve known Au since the mid-2000s and featured him in a 2007 article for the Columbia Journalism Review about reporters like him opening up virtual news outlets within Second Life. As I wrote at the time: On April 22, 2003, writing as Hamlet Linden for the New World Notes blog on Second Life’s Web site, Au introduced himself. “For the next few months, Linden Lab has invited me to set aside my journalist cap, and instead, don the digital beanie of their in-house virtual correspondent.” He wasn’t paid to keep it positive. He wrote about builders and eccentrics, but then in August of that year, he reported on a tax revolt against Linden Lab (a complaint about the fees it charges users who build stuff) led by a resident whose avatar was a big cat. Second Life has always been less of a video game and more of a virtual world where people can live, hang out, make art, sell virtual items and flirt. Back in 2007, Au described touring it as “sort of like underwater lucid dreaming.” For the past two decades, Au has maintained New World Notes as an independent publication. But he said he’s been drawn back to Second Life and Linden Lab as a place to directly work. The virtual world has around 650,000 monthly active users, he said, “which is actually about what it was during the hype wave.” Au says he’s still finding rich stories in Second Life, the kind that keep him interested 20 years into the beat: “Over the last few months for instance, I wrote about an SL creator in Venezuela whose apartment was destroyed by the earthquakes, so the global SL community rallied to get him back on his feet,” he told me. “Then there’s the woman from a Middle Eastern country who explored her lesbian sexuality in SL, then earned enough from her virtual jewelry to escape her abusive family situation and country.” Au wants to beckon more reporters to give Second Life another look. He argues that it is often ahead of internet trends, noting, for example, an early backlash in the community against AI-made art. Now the platform is drawing curiosity from more of the user-generated content community who’ve grown up with the likes of Roblox, according to Au. “Second Life was too early during its hype wave in 2005-2010, but it now feels right for a new wave of interest,” he told me.
Islamic Center of San Diego shooting suspect's family sues mental health facility
The family of 18-year-old Caleb Vazquez, one of the teens accused of the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, filed a lawsuit against Park Mental Health Treatment, where Vazquez was being treated.
N.Y. leads 23-state lawsuit over new Title X family planning funding conditions
Attorney General Letitia James is leading the challenge to new conditions tied to Title X.
Entertainment
Ross Gallabrese Faire May brought the sound of folk music to the lounge area at this month’s Wednesdays in Wintersville. Wednesday’s edition brought the monthly street festival to a close. It carried a fall festival theme and featured a display of pumpkins f all sizes and shapes. several food trucks were part of the evening, […]
Coplin Health Systems expands community commitment
PARKERBURG – The Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley has announced a new educational partnership formalized under its Partner In Education program between Coplin Health Systems and the Caperton Center for Applied Technology. The collaboration bridges regional career and technical education with local community healthcare leadership, creating opportunities for workforce readiness, career exploration and […]
Entertainment
Ross Gallabrese Faire May brought the sound of folk music to the lounge area at this month’s Wednesdays in Wintersville. Wednesday’s edition brought the monthly street festival to a close. It carried a fall festival theme and featured a display of pumpkins f all sizes and shapes. several food trucks were part of the evening, […]
Vermont joins 22-state lawsuit challenging federal rule on transgender youth healthcare
Vermont is challenging a federal rule on transgender youth healthcare.
Trump administration threatens to cut off agencies’ ties to Smithsonian
Echoing White House attacks, an Interior Department letter threatened the institution “under current leadership” with loss of support for sourcing artifacts and more.
State health department investigating potential food poisoning cases at UND
The cases may be linked to Wilkerson Dining Center from Aug. 22-24.
Northern Virginia business faces civil rights lawsuit
A Northern Virginia eyebrow tattoo artist is being sued for alleged harassment by a customer who claims her religion and nationality are at the center of the legal action.
Coverall of Gainesville Celebrates 40th 5-star Review and Perfect 5-Star Google Rating, Reinforcing Role as Best Commercial Cleaning Service in Gainesville, FL
Gainesville, FL, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coverall® of Gainesville, a leading commercial cleaning franchisor serving businesses throug...
Home sports competitions kick off at The Nest
Albany High hosted its first home sports competition of the 2026-27 season at The Nest on Tuesday evening as our boys' soccer team faced off against Schalmont! Our Falcons delivered a thrilling win, defeating the Sabres 4-0. Ahadi Wangya, Adam Rouse, Garnett Ngome Ekiti and Rajanie Morgan each scored a goal, with Ngome Ekiti also delivering an assist. Evan Bermejo recorded five saves for Albany to record the shutout. Come to Albany High tonight, Sept. 2, to pack the stands with Falcon fans! Our girls' tennis team will face off against Guilderland at 4:15 p.m. and our girls' soccer team takes on Berne-Knox-Westerlo at 4:30 p.m. Let's go Falcons!
Lori Harris named Chief Nursing Officer of Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
As CNO,Harris will be the senior nursing leader at VPH, overseeing nursing operations and helping shape the hospital’s strategic direction.
Microsoft to start disclosing Azure quarterly revenue as company consolidates business units
Microsoft will begin reporting quarterly Azure revenue in dollars for the first time, providing more clarity about its business that competes with AWS.
George Lucas on opening Lucas Museum: ‘This one almost broke my will’
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art co-founders George Lucas and Mellody Hobson spoke Wednesday at the press preview for the new museum. "This one almost broke my will," Lucas said.
Students take advantage of experiential learning opportunities
This summer was a time for travel, research, internships and expanding classroom lessons for many students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Nurses demand immediate reinstatement of colleagues unlawfully suspended by Prime Healthcare for speaking up for patients at two of its Chicago hospitals
In gross violation of national labor laws, Prime Healthcare over the past week has retaliated against registered nurses for speaking up and fighting for their patients at two of its Chicago-area hospitals, suspending six nurses at Olympia Fields Hospital in Olympia Fields, Ill. and one nurse at Saint Francis Hospital in Chicago, Ill.
Why didn’t the age argument work for Seth Moulton?
Incumbents swept across Massachusetts. On GBH’s Morning Edition, politics reporter Adam Reilly breaks down a decisive victory for Sen. Ed Markey.
Lucas Museum among L.A.’s boldest, most contradictory buildings
Synthetic yet organic, populist yet elitist, the $1 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is full of contradictions. Highlights include an extraordinary park, cascading waterfall, structural feats and unique vantages. But the galleries leave much to be desired.
Inside the gutsy, defiant Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
By discarding artistic hierarchy of any kind, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is stepping into an ongoing debate about what kind of work gets to be labeled "art."
Raiders officially name Kirk Cousins their starting quarterback
Cousins will officially begin the season as Las Vegas' QB1 over rookie Fernando Mendoza.
BTS opens four-night stand at Inglewood's SoFi Stadium
The K-pop boy band is on tour for the first time since its seven members completed their mandatory South Korean military service.
‘Balancing act’ helps keep colorectal cancer in check
Study finds that a balance of two closely related cell surface proteins may be critical to the health of the epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal tract.
Court dismisses Trump administration's sanctuary city lawsuit against Rochester
This is the second time a DOJ lawsuit against Rochester's sanctuary city policies has been thrown out.
Millions get wrong genetic test, study finds
A study shows current testing is providing false reassurance about genetic disposition for a rare life-threatening drug reaction.
Penn State Dairy Barns made animal science student 'feel at home'
Three years of working in Penn State’s Dairy Barns have been impactful for Hannah Mansfield, a spring 2026 College of Agricultural Sciences graduate who is pursuing a master’s degree in animal science.
You Might Benefit from a $7.85 Million Payout as PlayStation Settles Anti-Trust Lawsuit
Free money?
Health insurer Anthem targeted in lawsuit over air ambulance claims
PHI Health says the Indianapolis-based insurer is ignoring claims awards that are supposed to be binding under the federal No Surprises Act.
News | Aimbridge's new labor forecasting tool applies AI and data science to staffing
The proprietary LIFT platform is available at all managed hotels
Venus, Serena Williams' success backs science on younger siblings
As tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams prepare to take the court at the U.S. Open, their success backs research suggesting younger siblings thrive.
Whatever happened to ... children infected with HIV due to failures in healthcare?
For years, Pakistan has seen cases of children infected with HIV due to unsafe treatment in clinics and hospitals. A current outbreak numbers hundreds of cases. Why does this problem keep occurring?
La Canada QB Joe Bell is in sports heaven with baseball teammates
In throwback to 1980s, La Canada has seven baseball players on its varsity football team, embracing the multiple-sport athlete.
A look at one of this week's top high school football games
A look at this week's top high school football games in the Southland.
New evidence shows Boulder climate lab was dismantled in act of political reprisal, lawsuit alleges
New evidence shows pure politics was behind the Trump administration's threat to dismantle Boulder's NCAR climate lab, a lawsuit says
Takeaways from Massachusetts, where generational challenges fizzled
With the primary season winding down, the anti-incumbent wave spared older Democrats including Sen. Edward Markey, 80, who held off younger challengers.
'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' review: Acting of the highest caliber
Gregg T. Daniel directs "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" at A Noise Within, part of the theater's continuing exploration of the August Wilson Century Cycle.
Topgolf, Family Entertainment Group team up to create exceptional guest experiences
Family Entertainment Group, a national developer and operator of entertainment experiences, is partnering with Topgolf to create exceptional guest experiences through customized entertainment solutions and operational excellence. The phased rollout follows a successful pilot program at seven Topgolf venues, according to a press release
Jon-Eric Sullivan on Quinn Ewers: This is a performance business and it was not getting done
The Dolphins traded Ewers to the Jaguars for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick.
The science of emotional regulation — and how to do it better
Do you ever feel like your emotions control you instead of you controlling them? Maybe you lash out at someone after a long day at work or indulge to avoid a stressful situation. It’s called emotional dysregulation and don’t worry – we all experience it at some point. Luckily, there’s a better way of dealing with our feelings: building emotional intelligence. That may seem daunting, but Short Wave is here to guide you through everything from understanding the importance of emotions to how we can repair our relationship to them.Interested in learning more about your brain and your feelings? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org. We might cover it in a future episode!Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. It includes perks like bonus episodes, early access, archive access, curated playlists and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Mosque shooter's parents sue mental health organization after Islamic Center killings
The parents of one of the shooters involved in the deadly San Diego Islamic Center killings have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the mental health organization that had been treating their 18-year-old son, Caleb Vazquez.
Neal, longtime incumbent, beats Whalen, an educator, political newcomer
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal has retained his seat as the congressman for the 1st Hampden District. He beat out school teacher Jeromie Whalen.
Minogue wins GOP governor’s primary, AP projects
The Army veteran turned CEO will be the Massachusetts Republican Party’s nominee for governor.
US Sen. Ed Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic primary over opponent who called for change
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts secured the Democratic nomination in his bid for a third term in office Tuesday, fighting off a challenger who argued that it was time for a generational change.
Federal judge tosses Trump lawsuit over young trans athletes in California school sports
In a major LGBTQ+ rights victory, the justice department cannot force the state to ban trans girls from women’s sports
SUNY Fredonia graduate takes FCS science job
Ava Waterman won’t have to travel far for her first teaching job. This fall, she makes the jump from SUNY Fredonia to the Fredonia Central School District as Fredonia’s new Science Teacher. Waterman graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Adolescence Education: Biology and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and […]
North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards is formally censured over harassment allegations
The censure vote drew bipartisan support, and followed an investigation by the House Ethics Committee into allegations of sexual harassment against two young female staff members.
What Box Office Bomb Crushed Obsession 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 into this week’s issue, let me ask you for some suggestions. At the risk of coining too many names for too many things (hence my dictionary of terms...), I need a name for straight-to-streaming films that are too expensive to justify a straight-to-streaming release, but not big enough to justify a theatrical release. Like some of the films I highlighted in last week’s tally of the biggest film flops of 2026 so far: Hulu’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Pizza Movie or Never Change! They don’t feel like “made for TV movies” (think Hallmark and Lifetime movies, cheap Netflix romcoms, or Disney Channel Original movies, for example) but they don’t feel big enough for the big screen. They’re not “cinematic” enough, so to speak. As I wrote... “I still need a name for this middle zone of film that’s too expensive to go straight-to-streaming but too small to justify a theatrical release (with all the PR, distribution, marketing and whatnot costs that go along with it), the Goldilocks zone of streaming film death.” Friend of the newsletter Brandon Katz has suggested the “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”. I love that first one. I’d offer up the much wordier “The Streaming Budget Dead Zone” or “the Goldilocks Zone of streaming film death” but that last one isn’t accurate since, unlike Goldilocks’ porridge, these films are the opposite of “just right”. That’s the problem! Anyway, if you have any suggestions, let me know! On to today’s Streaming Ratings Report. As you can tell by today’s headline, things are going to be spicy! I’m looking at a box office bomb that did really, really well on streaming, somewhat challenging a few different narratives. And another Netflix series declined in its second season. All that, plus Wicked: For Good switching streamers, The Hawk continuing its strong run, _The Bear’_s finale season finally dropping off the charts, the WNBA posting a big viewership number, “shallow libraries”, a sitcom spinoff failing to launch, more big budget IP flopping on Paramount+, 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 July 20th to July 26th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - The Latest Theatrical Success Story on Streaming In the latest edition of “Flops, Bombs and Misses of the First Half of 2026”, I made a crucial change: I started including theatrical films with the streaming misses. The streamers have collectively—including Netflix, but not to as big of an extent—stopped making a lot of straight-to-streaming films, and the ones they do make aren’t as expensive as in the heyday of the streaming bubble. After the following two films bombed in theaters, you’d guess that they’ll be included in my next collection of flops, bombs and misses six months from now: Masters of the Universe on Prime Video (only $64 million domestic box office) Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max ($79 million domestic) But you’d be wrong! Masters of the Universe, a reboot of the He-Man franchise, a toy from the 1980s, came to streaming on 22-July and did great! This long-gestating project—it’s been at every studio for years, and came close to getting a greenlight at Netflix—then finally came to theaters in June, and showed up on streaming less than two months later. (I don’t love this short theatrical window.) It surprisingly grabbed nearly 20 million hours on its debut: That means, wait for it, Masters of the Universe is currently the eighth biggest film on streaming through two weeks. My rough bar for “hit” is shows or films in the top 15%. Ergo…Masters of the Universe is a legit, streaming hit! (One quick caveat: if it falls out of the top ten next week, it will move to 13th overall, just on the edge of the top 15.) Of course, that’s the data for just 2026. Here’s how it stacks up to Prime Video’s theatrical films: That drop into its second week is typical for Amazon films, but also a worrying sign. I have a feeling interest in this film is front-loaded and we’ll see it drop off after this. As for Mortal Kombat II, in this case, the viewership numbers roughly match the theatrical outing, with only 4.1 million hours in its first week. Here’s how it stacks up to other HBO Max films: The best defense of this number is that, as a relatively violent rated-R film, Mortal Kombat II never had a good chance at breaking out. So now it’s time for a little big of “Entertainment Nuance Guy”: First, yeah, my headline is obviously facetious, since Masters of the Universe besting Obsession says more about horror as a genre than it does that film. Second, I read and listened to quite a few “nobody wanted this IP” takes about Masters of the Universe, and that’s not really true. At least enough people wanted it to power a 20 million+ hour debut! Third, both this film and Mortal Kombat II were considered “average” by viewers, but not great films, with a 6.4 and 6.3 respectively on IMDb. That’s just shy of the level needed to be a word-of-mouth hit. Fourth, in the olden days, strong word of mouth could transform a box office miss into a cable/DVD hit, like Austin Powers or The Shawshank Redemption. We haven’t seen a lot of examples of that on streaming, though. And there are far fewer ways to monetize the post-theatrical life of a film these days. Fifth, Prime Video has shown an ability to push their own titles well, likely because they control the Amazon Fire TV ecosystem. Add it all up, and here’s my nuanced take on Masters of the Universe: it was a box office bomb, but, shockingly, a streaming hit. Unfortunately, while being a theatrical hit saves your film financially, being a streaming hit does not. Both Masters of the Universe and Mortal Kombat II had big budgets and needed to make more money in theaters to justify them. So…Straight-to-Streaming or Theaters? We’ve hit a really fun point in the streaming calendar, since the films that came out in theaters in April, May, and June are now arriving on streaming. So the “Do theatrical releases help streaming performances?” question is gonna get a fresh round of updates nearly every week. No single week will answer the question, but we may get some insights. For example, so far in 2026, it looks like theatrical films are lasting longer on the weekly Nielsen film charts. Here’s a list of films that have made the charts in their fourth or fifth week of release, separated by “for kids” and “general entertainment”: It certainly seems like theatrical films are lasting just a pinch longer on the charts, with Project Hail Mary being the current five-week champion. One Battle After Another did well for HBO Max too, and even The Sheep Detectives made it four weeks. The only exception to this trend? Obsession, which only lasted two weeks on the charts. You might tempted to overreact to this news. Don’t. Obsession is a huge horror hit, but horror just doesn’t do as well on streaming. By the way, here’s the Google Trends for various theatrical and stremaing films: Plus, when it comes to Netflix in four months, Obsession may have another big boost. Quick Notes on Film Note that when I write, “the streamers have pulled back on straight-to-streaming films” that doesn’t mean “abandoned” because Netflix is gonna Netflix. On 24-July, they released 72 Hours, a Kevin Hart comedy. Along with Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, John Cena and Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart is a streaming film star now. Did this latest one work? Not really. It only garnered two weeks of 13.2 and 12.2 million hours on its debut, well below the 20-million-hour hit threshold. It also was poorly received critically—a 44 on Metacritic—and by customers—a 5.4 on IMDb on 21K IMDb reviews. 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… The latest Netflix true crime doc to pop on the charts… How The Bear finished its run… Netflix’s latest Western to return to streaming… What Paramount+ animated film flopped… And what sitcom also missed… All the flops, bombs and misses… And a whole lot more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! I’m behind by a week, so we’ve got two issues coming your way this week, including one in a couple of days or so, then we’ll be all caught up**.** Next issue, inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to Peacock, I’m going to take a look at the workhouse of streaming TV: kids films. Plus The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues theatrical films’ big run on streaming. All that, plus another surprise hit on Hulu, Lioness on CBS, and a whole lot more. Long term, LeBron James is filming his own “Last Dance”-style docu-series, surprising no one. But as I’ve been writing about a lot this summer, this genre is really overrated, so whoever ends up buying it (reportedly ESPN) really shouldn’t pay too much for it.
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