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Obama Endorses Josh Turek in Iowa Senate Race With Basketball Video
The former president is trying to help Josh Turek net a Senate seat in Iowa, which Democrats see as one of their best pickup opportunities of the midterms.
Protect science & innovation from political interference
Scientific research is already facing setbacks as this administration tries to gain leverage over independent scientists. Now, President Donald Trump and his allies have proposed a rule to put their political appointees in charge of federal grant funding. This weaponization of research funding will slow down or stop research we depend on. Tell your senators to stop this proposed rule now!
New Podcast: Expanding Teen Mental Health First Aid in New York
New York is scaling Teen Mental Health First Aid statewide, empowering youth and communities with mental health literacy.
Can Anyone Spare a Buck For Texas?
One of America’s most competitive Senate races features a surprising dynamic: No Republicans are spending money yet.
How I Got My Career in Foreign Policy: Andrea R. Flores
Andrea Flores has spent more than fifteen years working on immigration policy, including at DHS, the White House, and the ACLU. She spoke with CFR about how her 360-degree perspective has shaped her understanding of the issue and the challenges of advancing immigration reform.
Scientists find a simple way to stop cavities without drilling
A liquid brushed onto cavities in seconds may spare many young children from pain, infection, and surgery. A major U.S. trial found that silver diamine fluoride stopped decay in more than half of treated baby teeth. The treatment requires no drilling, shots, or sedation, although it does permanently darken the decayed area.
Orlando Health's pet therapy program offers comfort to patients and families
Orlando Health's growing Paws for Hope pet therapy program, supported by volunteers and donations, provides emotional support to patients, families, and staff through trained therapy dogs and their handlers.
The week in politics (July 29, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And we reflect on the role the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee had on Houston and the city’s desegregation more than 50 years ago.
A Deluge of A.I. Computing Power Is About to Come Online, Fueling Major Leaps
The number of A.I. chips that provide the computing power to advance the fast-evolving technology is doubling every nine months.
Opinion | Is More Data About Your Body Actually Good for You?
The Silicon Valley health trend making doctors nervous.
The Science Behind the AI Panic Is Shakier Than You Think
A column by Sascha Lobo Is AI making us dumb? So asked DER SPIEGEL on its cover a while ago. After a few weeks of recovery and a therapeutic intervention with the help of my AI, I feel able to respond. That’s a bit unfair, of course; the article itself is more nuanced than the loud cover, the image of a schoolkid with dull prompt questions, or the subtitle: “AI is conquering the schools, and educators fear a disaster.” The short answer to “Is AI making us dumb?” is: no. The long answer is more interesting, and even carries a preliminary glimmer of the spectacular. Unfortunately, it requires a detour into the sphere of artificial intelligence, into the mogul-field terrain of technology assessment, the attention economy, and the destructive virus of cultural pessimism. Along with narrowing the scope to AI’s effects on education and work rather than on intelligence. Because the honest version of the question would be: Does AI help us learn and work, or not? Generative AI, which set off the still-ongoing hype with ChatGPT, has only existed in relevant distribution since late 2022, early 2023. For a technology-driven transformation of people and society, that is extremely short. For that reason alone, research is still in its infancy. And technology assessment is not a fast discipline anyway. Prominent voices from Elizabeth Eisenstein to RAND to Tom Wheeler say we still cannot conclusively judge the consequences of the printing press. Its invention is a mere 580 years back, and some scholars would rather not circulate assessments that might have to be retracted in two or three hundred years. We’re Going Through Growing Pains A phenomenon that already caused upheaval in social media research makes serious assessment of AI’s consequences even harder: the “moving target” problem of LLM-ology, as the linguist Sean Trott called it in 2025. AI develops so quickly and so unpredictably that researchers often end up studying snapshots of the past. There are concepts, from morphological analysis to anticipatory governance, for keeping research, planning, and regulation halfway meaningful anyway. But even with those, universally valid statements are rare. DER SPIEGEL - The German View is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe We should therefore treat findings about the interplay between humans and AI as far more procedural and situational. Unfortunately, this challenge comes at the worst possible time. We are going through growing pains: AI’s everyday impact has grown very large very fast, and with it the longing for guidance. Annoyingly, the body of solid knowledge has not exploded along with it. Experts cannot be moved to broad consensus on even banal statements about AI. Sascha Lobo, born in 1975, is an author and strategy consultant focusing on the internet and digital technologies. Together with Jule Lobo, he explores the debates of the day in the podcast “Feel the News – Was Deutschland bewegt” (”What Moves Germany”). Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says software developers are dying out. Bill Gates considers coders one of only three professions that will survive the AI tsunami. Top tech economists find virtually irrefutable arguments both for and against an AI bubble. The same naturally applies to the structurally youth-hostile debate over whether AI is good or bad for young people. The gap between the demand for insight and the supply of solid knowledge creates an orientation vacuum. This vacuum of AI cluelessness is filled, as the attention economy described by Georg Franck in 1998 would have it, with half-knowledge (funnily enough, often AI-generated), marketing, and self-marketing. After all, infinite money is at stake, along with academia’s best current shot at global fame. But this iridescent froth of interpretation operates more by the algorithmic principles of the digital public sphere than by seriously earned insight. That is why dramatized, fear-feeding claims about AI are so promising. It tempts parts of academia into distorted drivel, and parts of the media then sensationalize the published drivel once more. Was the Research Aimed at a Desired Result? How badly this can influence academia and public perception is demonstrated by one of the most-discussed studies on AI’s effects: “Your Brain on ChatGPT.” The MIT study by Nataliya Kosmyna also gets plenty of space in the SPIEGEL cover story. What was measured and interpreted: lower brain activity in people who write with AI assistance, compared to people who only google or write without any tools. As is common with preprints, the study has not yet been peer-reviewed, and it contains substantial weaknesses that experts have sharply criticized. The first round had 54 participants in three groups, the second only 18, who reportedly also came from MIT’s own orbit. There was no preregistration (committing in advance to what you want to find out with which data). In their analysis, Stanković et al. even discovered an opposite effect that the study does not further explain. Some measurement data has not (yet) been published. And the EEG analysis method used is considered too imprecise to support such far-reaching conclusions. The biggest criticism, though, is the suspicion of an activism-driven study. In an interview with Time, lead author Kosmyna said she published the study immediately, rather than after full peer review, because she feared politicians might otherwise decide to put ChatGPT in kindergartens. She considers that absolutely harmful. It is legitimate to hold such a view. It just seems unscientific to approach a study with it, and then to design the setup so that the chance of a fitting desired result remains as high as possible. Ideologies Collide It is not easy to separate genuine AI insights from studies that trivialize and weaken well-founded AI criticism. The same goes for the opposing, AI-enthusiastic narratives, because the pro-AI side works against it with billions in resources. Ideologies collide, fed by egos, PR strategies, moral posturing, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Doomsday marketing makes the search even harder: AI companies can profit from warnings about the dangers of AI, whether through the notoriety of apocalypse narratives or because, in some target groups, danger translates into power. Some seemingly negative findings are therefore quite welcome in the AI industry. If you try to get at the findings presumably less influenced by interest groups, the picture in education seems relatively clear: AI can improve educational outcomes when the right AI is used the right way, namely pedagogically. Simply dumping an AI chatbot into a classroom, by contrast, accomplishes little. Huge surprise. But something else is also obvious: whether they are allowed to or not, kids use AI for school, which is why the controlled integration of AI tools into education is, in the medium term, entirely without alternative. In the world of work, the landscape of findings is more complex and requires more differentiation. A series of serious studies points to an AI effect that suits neither the alarmists, regulation fetishists, and AI opponents, nor the trillion-dollar corporations with their armada of paid scientists, PR professionals, and ecosystems: working with AI helps the inexperienced (at least for now) considerably more than it helps the pros, in certain fields of work, and provided they know how to use it correctly. Missing Domain Knowledge Among the experienced, the professionals, and the high flyers, by contrast, despite frequent time savings, partially negative effects and new problems are emerging. Take the jagged frontier problem: AI solves task A brilliantly and fails completely at task B, even though both look similar even to professionals. Or the verification-cost problem, in which AI’s greater productivity gets eaten up by the enormous effort of checking its output. Or the illusion of competence, because AI makes new domains seem easily penetrable, until you painfully discover that deep domain knowledge is missing. Taken as a whole, the effects of working with AI do lean positive. But the promise that AI works as a turbocharger for everyone and boosts practically everything simply refuses to materialize. The AI magic the world has been feeling since ChatGPT arrived in late 2022 has so far barely shown up in most companies’ numbers. The consulting firm McKinsey has coined a term for this, the “gen AI paradox,” and believes that work processes and corporate structures would have to be rebuilt quite fundamentally to realize AI’s benefits at scale. Reuters just reported that only 3.3 percent of Microsoft’s customers have subscribed to the AI package Copilot. That may be down to the product; in other areas we continue to see soaring successes and new AI triumphs. But after the first quarter of 2026, disillusionment is the word for all too many AI projects at traditional companies: because the promised revolution of AI agents has so far failed to arrive or been postponed, and because of the leveling effect that many of the studies cited here suggest. Against Inequality The societal effects, on the other hand, appear rather encouraging. Many previous technologies operated on the Matthew principle, named for the Gospel verse about giving to those who already have: they tended to reward the more competent and more privileged. AI, however, seems more often to have an equalizing effect once a threshold of access and education is crossed. Some anecdotal insights point in this direction, for example, how an unemployed man in Leipzig successfully defended himself in court in 2025 against fraud accusations from Germany’s federal employment agency — without a lawyer, armed only with ChatGPT. The AI made mistakes and cited invented court rulings, but in the end the man walked away unpunished. And a key capability of artificial intelligence is its capacity to learn: set up correctly and fed with data, it can keep getting better. It is a question of time, or more precisely of AI innovations and training data, until even free AI chatbots write better legal briefs than law graduates with perfect exam scores. Whether that will make anyone dumb is something the world’s press will surely inform us of in due time. Subscribe Leave a comment
Battle to replace late House Dem goes to overtime after daughter failed to clinch seat
Marcye Scott and Everton Blair advance to an Aug. 25 runoff election in Georgia's 13th congressional district to fill the late David Scott's seat.
Jared Leto faces sexual misconduct allegations from more women
Jared Leto has been accused of behaving inappropriately with four women when they were in their teens, according to a new BBC report.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds DLC ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pack’ now available
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds downloadable content “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pack” is now available for $5.99, SEGA announced. It is also available as part of the $29.99 Season Pass.
Lab-Grown Meat: Separating the Science From the “Yuck”
Is lab-grown meat the sustainable future of food or an unsettling science experiment? Dive into the complex world of cultivated protein as this insightful article explores the “yuck” factor, steep economic hurdles, and structural shifting driving the cutting-edge future of farming.
Council caught off guard as mayor seeks funding from local business owners
WOAI NBC News Channel 4 San Antonio provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, investigations, and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for San Antonio and nearby towns and communities in South Central Texas, including Windcrest, Uvalde, Universal City, Somerset, Seguin, Schertz, San Marcos, Sabinal, Poth, Poteet, Pleasanton, Pearsall, New Braunfels, Live Oak, Kerrville, Hondo, Helotes, Goliad, Fredericksburg, Floresville, Eagle Pass, Devine, Del Rio, Cuero, Crystal City, Converse, Cibolo, Castroville, Carrizo Springs, Boerne, Bandera.
Senate Confirms Jay Clayton to Lead U.S. Intelligence Community
Mr. Clayton, who shed Democratic support after he refused to clearly say Joseph R. Biden Jr. won the 2020 election, will take over the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from Bill Pulte.
Boonville Oneida County Fair Dedicates Building to Carl Trainor
On opening day, the Boonville Oneida County Fair hosted a special dedication ceremony recognizing Carl Trainor, a longtime volunteer and organizer.
Domestic Abuse Allegations Rock Max Miller’s Ohio House Race
Representative Max Miller, a Republican, is facing accusations of abuse from his ex-wife in a bitter family feud that might put his otherwise safe seat in play.
Pennsylvania health insurance providers request steep rate increases for 2027
Health insurance providers in Pennsylvania have requested significant rate increases for 2027, with proposals affecting both individual and small group markets.
What’s Going on With Mitch McConnell? Kentucky’s Governor Has Questions.
Gov. Andy Beshear called on Senator McConnell, who has been hospitalized since June, to prove his capacity to serve, or resign.
Iran Considered Retaliatory Strike on Ukrainian Seaport
A flurry of diplomacy has eased tensions, officials said, after an incident risked triggering a wider war.
Behind Closed Doors, Trump Huddles With Netanyahu and Zelensky
The visits by the leaders of Israel and Ukraine underscored just how deeply President Trump was enmeshed in conflicts he had promised — and failed — to end quickly.
Asm. McKinnor's Bill Banning Drones Above Outdoor Entertainment Events Awaits Senate Decision - The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
Assembly Bill 2113, titled “Aviation: Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Ticketed Entertainment Events,” passed the Senate Public Safety Committee on June 30 by a 6-0 vote and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Suffolk judge orders a third mental health evaluation for Nesconset teen charged with killing ex-girlfriend Emily Finn
The New York State Office of Mental Health found Austin Lynch, 18, was not competent to stand trial after he was charged with the second-degree murder in the killing of Emily Finn, who had visited him at his home to return his belongings following a breakup.
Isabella Bellezza Receives the 2026 Merze Tate Award for “Exporting Homeland Security: Network Politics and the Globalization of Border Control” -
The Merze Tate Award is presented annually by the American Political Science Association (APSA) to honor the best doctoral dissertation in the field of international relations, law, and politics. Citation from the Award Committee: Isabella Bellezza’s dissertation, [...]
Eagles Invest Big on Jalen Carter With Record-Setting Extension
It turns out the Philadelphia Eagles were willing to make Jalen Carter the NFL's highest-paid defensive tackle after all. The Eagles locked in Carter to a four-year, $152 million contract with $106 million in guaranteed money, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Carter's contract could be worth up to $40 million annually and will run through 2031.
House committee passes Foreign Funding Transparency Act to expose foreign donations to nonprofits
The Foreign Funding Transparency Act targets foreign nationals funneling money through tax-exempt organizations to political committees in the U.S.
Under pressure over China backers, Mercedes CEO pledges to defend U.S. business
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation last week to toughen a ban on Chinese automakers entering the U.S. market.
Lawmakers Need to Get Serious About Business Tax Reform
Last week, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) said he wants to revisit expanding Section 199A. He argues that the deduction should be as high as 25 percent because pass-through businesses need to compete...
Steelers’ DK Metcalf: Roman Wilson more confident in Year 3
The third-year wideout isn’t second-guessing himself like last year, Metcalf said.
Steelers Get Good News on Health of OT Broderick Jones
Broderick Jones, the team’s first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, suffered a season-ending neck injury that required surgery last October
AFSCME Leader Lee Saunders to Retire as Unions Face New Opposition
Lee Saunders has led the country’s top union for local public workers at a time of growing public support and official opposition.
Tune Adds Six New Nano Road Wheels Including Nano CS with Patented Carbon Spoke/Hub Interface
Tune launches six new road wheels with carbon, or steel spokes. All comes in various depths and terrain focus.
Germany’s AfD Opposes Pride Flags but May Win Support After L.G.B.T.Q. Attack
Analysts say a recent attack on a Pride celebration is likely to focus fall elections on issues favoring the far-right Alternative for Germany party.
Poll: Who Gets Into Hall of Fame Next Year?
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will enshrine its Class of 2026 one week from Saturday, on August 8. The five players being inducted are modern-era candidates Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri, and senior committee choice Roger Craig. For Brees and Fitzgerald, this was their first year on the ballot.
The Small Business Administration is offering new grants and up to $10 million in financing
The SBA is providing more financial resources, particularly grants, guarantees, and loans for a variety of business uses.
Detroit sports heroes to tee it up at DGC, and fans can watch for free
Wednesday's Rocket Classic pro-am will include Lions legends Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson. Admission and parking are free.
How Trump’s ‘America first’ administration could shut US scientists out of the next Nobel-worthy discovery
A proposed White House rule would give political appointees unprecedented control over scientific funding. One physicist, who helped discover the Higgs boson, explains how the rule would’ve stifled that breakthrough.
Senate Democrats Press Blanche on Times Subpoenas
Days before a committee vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general, Democrats demanded answers about the since-withdrawn subpoenas.
Rise in US preteen suicide rate alarms mental health experts
The number of preteens — ages 8 to 12 — who die by suicide in the United States each year is relatively small. But the total in 2025 was 194 — the most since at least 2001, according to preliminary data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tech Stocks Tumble on Worries About A.I. Spending and China’s Chip Competition
South Korea temporarily paused trading on Tuesday as its benchmark stock index led losses across the region, closing more than 10 percent lower.
North Range Business Park addition proposal advances to second committee look
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Cheyenne City Council advanced an ordinance, which would annex a 34-acre lot into the city and eventually fold it into the North
Small businesses getting big boost as LeBron James signs with 76ers
Monkey's Uncle Retro Philly Tee Shirts in Doylestown has been pressing LeBron-themed shirts since the news first broke on Friday.
6 Takeaways From Michigan’s Senate Debate Between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens
At the final debate before next week’s Democratic primary for Senate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and Representative Haley Stevens showcased their wildly different ideological stances and political styles.
Scientists create an “electron lighthouse” with laser light
Scientists have created an “electron lighthouse” that uses laser light to launch and steer electrons through a semiconductor without an applied electrical field. The quantum effect could eventually improve optical sensors, communications, imaging, and information storage.
Trump Backs New Talks but It’s Unclear What He Hopes to Achieve This Time
Iran denied President Trump’s claim that it wants to talk, and gave no sign that it would make concessions or speak directly with U.S. officials.
Steelers training camp brings big crowds, economic boost to Latrobe-area businesses
'They're selling us out quickly': Fans take to Latrobe ahead of Steelers training camp
The first practice that's open to the public starts at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse and Winn & Sara’s Kitchen
Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE. Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse and Winn & Sara’s Kitchen of Warren County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. "Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse has been an outstanding addition to the Indianola community," said Chair Ernst. "For 23 years, the Nguyen family has proudly served Iowans with their signature thin-crust pizzas and hand-cut steaks, building a loyal following through exceptional food and service. The Nguyen family’s dedication to their customers and community embodies the very best of Iowa’s entrepreneurial spirit." Founded in 2003 by Winn Nguyen, Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse has become a beloved fixture in the Indianola community. In 2015, Winn expanded to Norwalk, bringing the business’ssignature hospitality and comfort food to even more Iowans. Most recently, the launch of Winn & Sara’s Kitchen in 2024 further strengthened the family’s connection to the community, earning widespread praise during its first three appearances at the Iowa State Fair. For over two decades, the Nguyen family has worked tirelessly to serve classic comfort food with a creative twist. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
German Bundesliga receives €1bn funding proposal from U.S. investment firm Apollo Sports
The proposed loan is repayable over 20 years at a rate of over 5 per cent, guaranteed against future domestic broadcast earnings.
Iran War Enters 6th Month and a Period of Greater Uncertainty
Here is a rundown of the major events of the war, as both sides consider their next moves.
As Communities Unite Against Europe’s Wildfires, Politicians Trade Blows
Spain’s center-left accused conservatives of underfunding the disaster response, while critics of France’s government decried delays.
Peptides are the latest wellness trend – but do they work?
A drug advisory committee in the US has recommended approval for several experimental peptides. But there have been no large-scale tests of these new compounds in humans, finds columnist Grace Wade
Alliance Entertainment Unveils Masters of the Universe SteelBook® Artwork and Announces Surprise Limited Project Hail Mary Restock at San Diego Comic-Con 2026
PLANTATION, Fla., July 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: AENT), a premier distributor and omnicha...
NFL training camp news, live updates: Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy steps away from team; Commanders part ways with TEs coach Ben Steele
McConnell Extends Senate Leave, Will Miss State Picnic
A new statement said the senator was not “medically cleared” to leave a rehabilitation facility and would miss a Kentucky political event.
Energy Secretary’s Own Lawyers Flatly Contradict His Repeated Denials That Politics Played Any Role in Mass Termination of Projects
Murray, Kaptur respond to DOE’s recent legal filing admitting that politics was the only reason nearly 300 cost-cutting energy projects in blue states were terminated during the shutdown last October Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and […]
Microsoft Unveils A.I. Cybersecurity Tools
As some executives fret over the safety of new A.I. systems, protecting against them could be a big business for tech companies.
Every child guaranteed health care under new proposal
MediKids represents boost for children The decades-long march toward providing health care for every child in America received a major boost with the
Commanders fire tight ends coach Ben Steele just days before training camp
Virginia court records show Steele was arrested on suspicion of DWI on June 7
Even China’s A.I. Powerhouses Can’t Figure Out How to Profit Off A.I.
Chinese A.I. models are gaining ground. But the companies behind them do not have a clear strategy to make money from that success.
Should We Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent?
More light at the day’s end comes at a price: much later winter sunrises across much of the U.S. Scientists have documented consequences for public health and the economy.
Should We Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent?
More light at the day’s end comes at a price: much later winter sunrises across much of the U.S. Scientists have documented consequences for public health and the economy.
For one Minnesota man, peer connection was the key to mental health recovery
Fairview is expanding outpatient group programs across Minnesota, giving teens and adults more intensive support while helping them stay connected to work, school and home.
Teen baseball standout signs with Miami Marlins
Cherokee Nation citizen Nic Tolbert has signed to play baseball in the major leagues.
Jon Bon Jovi brings out surprise guest Bruce Springsteen for final show at MSG
Jon Bon Jovi brought out Bruce Springsteen for the final night of his band’s MSG concert run, uniting New Jersey music icons.
Scientists reveal what sparkling water really does to your teeth
Unsweetened sparkling water may offer a tooth-friendlier alternative to sugary soda, according to a small preliminary study tracking how different drinks change mouth acidity. Soda caused the strongest and longest drop in salivary pH, while sparkling water produced only a temporary decline before saliva restored normal conditions. Importantly, acidity remained above the level associated with enamel damage.
Many young adults may not be ready to manage their own health care
Many young adults may be entering adulthood without the practical skills needed to manage their own health care, suggests a national C.S. Mott Children's Hospital poll.
Cardiff teenager Donczew close to Arsenal move
Arsenal are close to completing the signing of Cardiff City teenager Axel Donczew.
Supreme Court tees up new test of FERC’s political independence
A recent ruling could spell trouble for the agency that oversees gas pipelines and the nation’s grid.
Follow the Money: UK trustees keep giving big to Beshear
FRANKFORT – Ruth Day contributed another $15,000 to the Kentucky Democratic Party on June 16, ten days before Gov. Andy Beshear appointed her to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees.
Steelers roster spotlight: Can Germie Bernard earn the WR3 role?
As the Pittsburgh Steelers move closer to the 2026 season, we’re taking a closer look at every player on the roster, with WR Germie Bernard up next.
Political action committees swarm incumbents with donations
The two incumbent Tennessee lawmakers from Knox County who are facing primary challengers have PACs on their side.
Can a Progressive Win in a Purple State? Abdul El-Sayed Wants to Find Out.
Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary is a critical front in the fight between Democrats’ progressive and moderate flanks and a preview of the 2028 presidential primary.
Jeffries Kicks Off Midterm Sprint With Economic Pitch
Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat and minority leader, focused relentlessly on affordability in a swing district.
Opinion | Costco or Whole Foods? Grocery Stores are Symbols of Identity
Our grocery stores mirror the mess of America.
How Trump’s “America First” Administration Could Shut U.S. Scientists Out of the Next Nobel-Worthy Discovery
A proposed White House rule would give political appointees unprecedented control over scientific funding. One physicist, who helped discover the Higgs boson, explains how the rule would’ve stifled that breakthrough.
Canceled federal grants hit teen pregnancy prevention in Baltimore, rural counties
The federal government's abrupt termination of teen pregnancy prevention funding last month means the loss of more than $3 million to Maryland programs, which are trying to see if they can still offer young people programming for without federal support.
What England's local councils tell us about fragmenting politics
Even the most ardent advocate for local democracy would concede that council chambers are not always the most exciting places. Subscribe Whether it’s planning meetings, motions or resolutions, you’d be forgiven for switching off. Unless it’s lockdown and we’re talking about standing orders, of course. Remember Jackie Weaver, who infamously “had no authority here” at a chaotic parish council Zoom call in 2021? Yet, as a general rule since then, council meetings rarely make the headlines beyond local papers and news websites. Reform’s success After Reform’s stunning success at the local elections in May though, the leader of the party’s group on Kirklees Council suddenly found she’d gone viral online for admitting that she didn’t actually understand council procedures. “I don’t understand the constitution”, Councillor Sarah Wood, pictured above, told the council chamber. “I have not had sufficient time to read that as yet. I don’t understand what standing orders are, what they’re made up of, nor do I understand what an amendment is.” Share Channel 4 News Councillor Wood later defended her comments to the BBC, and said that “new councillors and not just us, are coming from jobs”. She claimed that the sharing of the clip mocking her online was an example of “Reform-bashing”. She added: “Yes, we need to know procedures. Yes we need to do the homework. And we have addressed that now and we have put that right.” So, with standing orders getting another moment in the spotlight, not to mention the fracturing and fragmentation from May’s results, we set out to find out how new councillors are doing across England in this new political landscape. New political landscape Where better to start then than Kirklees, in West Yorkshire. Reform is the largest party, the council is under no overall control and has chosen a new leader - Sarah Wood - after two failed attempts to elect one. It is difficult to secure interviews with new Reform councillors, but John Hardie, pictured below, told us it’s been a “whirlwind” since being elected in May. He represents the Dalton ward and told us the party’s lack of political experience hasn’t been a hindrance. “We’ve come with lots of experience, lots of business experience and life experience, and it’s been good, actually, too. And to mix with other councillors who have been in the political world, and we can learn from each other.” Indeed, more parties are now having a say than ever before. In Manchester, the Green Party followed up their victory in the parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by gaining 17 seats on the city council. That makes them the official opposition to Labour, who have long dominated Manchester City Council. [ ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/how-landmark-green-by-election-win) [ How landmark Green by-election win could change British politics ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/how-landmark-green-by-election-win) Krishnan Guru-Murthy · Feb 27 [ Read full story ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/how-landmark-green-by-election-win) Thirza Amina Asanga-Rae, pictured below, is one of those new councillors, representing Moss Side. We asked her how being the official opposition can make a difference. She said: “I think even the fact that we’ve made history in what we’ve done, it’s been a 50-year stronghold of Labour in Manchester, and now that we’ve broken that and chipped in that, there’s real hope that we can not only run the council in the future, but currently hold them to account. So, I think that’s powerful. It’s just going to help shape and build what I call the green wave.” The reality, though, is that several newly elected councillors across the country have already left their roles through resignations, suspensions or defections. ‘It’s a slog’ Asanga-Rae adds: “It’s a job, it’s a slog. Obviously, we’re going through hard times. Austerity is real. We’re talking about food, child poverty, furniture poverty. The list is endless, and I think people who come into a councillor role need to be willing to help, really roll the sleeves up and get involved and help, and I think a lot of the career politicians, who think it’s the ‘la-di-da’ position, get in and realise I’m not going to do this work and bounce.” Share Although Manchester still has a clear majority, many councils, including Kirklees, are now under no overall control. That is perhaps the strongest sign of the political fragmentation we are seeing. Burnley is another example of this. Reform is now the largest party, yet they’re not part of the power-sharing coalition on this council - the Liberal Democrats and a local group of independents. Zulkernehn Hayat, pictured below, is part of The Independent Group. He represents Queensgate ward and told us all councils can benefit from having more independent councillors. ‘This is where I was brought up’ He said: “This is my home. This is Burnley. This is where I was brought up. Why do I need to get approval from somebody in a head office down south somewhere, you know? “This is my biggest argument. If okay, my neighbour comes to me with an issue, I can then take that straight to the council, because I don’t need to get approval from anywhere else. And this is the benefit of being independent.” So, while voters will always inevitably want quick results, perhaps spare a thought for the newly-elected councillors who are still navigating local government - one standing order at a time. 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Germany's sick-note crackdown may be treating the symptoms, not the disease
Germany's plans to tighten sick-note rules may be mistaking the symptoms of rising absenteeism for the underlying illness, researchers say, pointing to mental health strains and deteriorating working conditions in sectors such as healthcare and education.
Business briefs, July 27
New CMS voting memo sparks concerns over resident assistance in nursing homes … Initial jobless claims decline 22K week over week, falling to a seasonally adjusted tally of 187K … House Energy and Commerce Committee passes package to streamline Medicare Advantage prior authorization … 1 in 4 US workers sticking with a job strictly for health insurance … Fitch Ratings affirms Greenwood Village South at BBB-; outlook stable
Following first year of behavioral healthcare pilot program for Copper Mountain workers, spearheading organizations consider returning for a second season
Last December, Copper Mountain Resort and Elevated Community Health introduced free behavioral health services for all Copper Mountain volunteers and employees through a work-based care center located at the EDGE, the mountain’s employee housing facility. ...
I took my teen on a group tour abroad. She surprised me.
I worried my teen would feel out of place on our Isle of Skye tour. She found her footing immediately.
Ex-economic committee member, small business owner Gupta running for Pleasanton City Council District 3
Pleasanton resident and business advocate Reena Gupta launched her campaign for the City Council District 3 seat a bit differently than typical candidates.
Will Howard in ‘pole position’ for Steelers backup QB job
Steelers QB Will Howard in “pole position” for QB2 job.
Physicists Created an 'Electron Lighthouse' That Steers Current With Light
The tiniest, quantum-iest lighthouse ever built.
Opinion | Obsessing About Our Mental Health Is Part of Our Mental Health Problem
We need to support psychological well-being without fixating on it.
Trump Seems Trapped by Iran War, Even as He Wields the World’s Biggest Hammer
A president who thought there were no limits to his power has discovered several, leaving him more frustrated and erratic.
Democrats Reset the Maine Senate Race. Now Comes the Tricky Part.
Troy Jackson is replacing Graham Platner, but Republicans are seeking to tie them together as a remade race kicks off with high stakes.
Inside the Phone-Throwing Drama at the Troubled, Broke Democratic Party
The Democrats should be well positioned to make gains in this year’s midterms. But inside party headquarters, every week brings paranoia, worries about money and, on occasion, emotional eruptions.
An Admiral’s Rise Reveals the Politics Driving Hegseth’s Pentagon
Before he was picked to lead the Navy, Adm. Daryl Caudle found ways to signal his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s anti-diversity goals.
A Son of Wealth Finds His Calling in a High-End Grocery Store
How the scion Sammy Nussdorf found his calling among the carefully arranged shelves of Meadow Lane, his chic market in Lower Manhattan.
Book Review: ‘Furious Violet,’ by Sarai Walker
Sarai Walker’s “Furious Violet” is a psychological thriller about the kind of woman the genre — and the world — typically overlooks.
Appeals Court Upholds Blocks on Trump Order Restricting Mail Voting
The ruling on Saturday was the latest rebuke to President Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting. The government says it may take the case to the Supreme Court.
Trump Holds Off on Major War Escalation Against Iran as Advisers Raise Concerns
Among the worries is that expanded hostilities could dangerously drain the diminished stockpile of air defense munitions in the Middle East.