SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " sid " 32,672 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Trump takes midterms message to deep red Nebraska
President Donald Trump gave supporters a campaign-style speech in Nebraska in a continued effort to fire up the GOP base ahead of the midterms. CNN’s Jeff Zeleny reports.
UCLA Health awarded $4M NIH grant to study why ulcerative colitis symptoms persist after inflammation subsides
UCLA Health gastroenterologist Lin Chang and Dr. Bruce Sands of Mount Sinai were awarded a $4 million federal grant to investigate why some ulcerative colitis patients continue to experience irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms even after inflammation has subsided.
Hunter Green Named Ray’s Eight, Punting Matchup with Iowa
Washington punter Hunter Green was named one of the “Ray’s Eight” punters of the week by the Ray Guy Award after his 310-yard punting performance at USC. Green punted six times for an average of 51.7 yards with three pinned inside the 20-yard line. Two of his punts were downed at the one-yard line. His …
A simple guide to the US midterms
US voters will head to the polls on 3 November in a ballot that could have a major impact on Donald Trump’s presidency.
Trump says he will pay for campaign-style ads himself after backlash over taxpayer-funded effort
President Donald Trump said Monday he will no longer use taxpayer money to fund a series of promotional television ads, announcing that he will instead pay for them with funds raised for MAGA, Inc., the pro-Trump super PAC.
Mother speaks out after son allegedly shot, killed by business partner in Antlers
A 33-year-old man was allegedly shot and killed by David Basham inside an Antlers shop one evening in late August, according to an affidavit obtained by KXII 12.
The Sticky Business of Loving Cinéma L’Amour: Inside Montreal’s Historic Porn Theater
You won’t find a sexier testament to word-of-mouth marketing than this Canadian institution, where free online porn and Trump’s tariffs are among many challenges facing its warmly exhausted owner toda...
Trump uses anti-transgender slur to attack South Carolina Senate candidate
President Donald Trump on Monday used an anti-transgender slur to attack Democratic South Carolina Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews, as he tries to push his hand-picked GOP candidate, Sen. Darline Graham, over the finish line in the midterm election.
Trump uses anti-transgender slur to attack South Carolina Senate nominee
(CNN) — President Donald Trump on Monday used an anti-transgender slur to attack Democratic South Carolina Senate nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, as he tries to push his handpicked GOP candidate,
Trump uses anti-transgender slur to attack South Carolina Senate candidate
(CNN) — President Donald Trump on Monday used an anti-transgender slur to attack Democratic South Carolina Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews, as he tries to push his hand-picked GOP candidate,
The Harvard Crimson (@theharvardcrimson)
24 likes, 0 comments - theharvardcrimson on October 5, 2026: "Caroline B. Kennedy ’80 introduced the Institute of Politics’ 60th anniversary forum Thursday, marking her first known public appearance at the Institute since she resigned from its Senior Advisory Committee more than six years ago. Kennedy — the daughter of President John F. Kennedy ’40, to whom the IOP is dedicated – stepped down as the committee’s honorary chair in 2020 amid concerns over the IOP’s diminished independence, declining programming, and tensions with Harvard Kennedy School leadership. Full story linked in bio. 🖋: Jen L. Phan and Mirei S. Saneyoshi 📷: Grace E. Yoon".
The rocky road to more manageable healthcare costs in NC
NC residents are worried about big medical bills. A state commission is working on ideas to help lower healthcare costs.
On Your Side: Better Business Bureau shares tips for winterizing your home and car
The Better Business Bureau has tips to help you winterize your home and vehicle so you’re prepared for anything the season throws at you.
U.S. Supreme Court declines request to consider Bellingham COVID-19 vaccine case
The denial means the lower court’s ruling will remain in effect, thereby signaling the end of the case.
Long & Foster taps RE/MAX exec as new CEO
Long & Foster Cos. announced that President and CEO Patrick Bain is stepping down and that it has tapped Daniel Dennis to succeed him.
Byram business owner relocates man experiencing homelessness brought into city
A Byram entrepreneur recorded himself assisting a man experiencing homelessness by offering him a ride and relocating him outside the city.
Volkswagen exec starts in new CarMax C-suite role
Elizabeth Dirgins was named CarMax's inaugural chief digital and customer officer and executive vice president.
Rice: Southern Baptist pastors should be involved in the political process
CLEARWATER, Fla. (BP) – Southern Baptist pastors should “absolutely” be a part of the political process in order to press on issues that speak to theological and moral clarity, SBC President Willy Rice told Fox News in a weekend interview.
CBS Sports Chief David Berson To Expand Portfolio As TNT Sports Chief Luis Silberwasser Exits
David Berson, who has led CBS Sports as president since 2024, will expand his portfolio after the close of the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The exec will take responsibility for sports across Skydance, the soon-to-be-umbrella over CBS and TNT Sports and their respective parents, Paramount and WBD. The $111 billion merger is due to close …
Ted Cruz Says JD Vance’s ‘Political Bomb-Throwing’ Shows He’s ‘Insecure’ Ahead of 2028 Election
While Vice President JD Vance might have been floated as a potential frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2028 election, Senator Ted Cruz is doing his part to keep the party’s...
Tee Higgins considered day-to-day
Bengals WR Tee Higgins uncertain for Week 5 because of injury
Why I Don’t Think Ride Or Die Should Have Been Cancelled (And What Company Should Save It...)
(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.) So…I recently came across a Reddit thread, talking about films on streaming, wondering why there are no reliable sources out there for streaming ratings data. Sigh. Honestly, as annoyed as I am that so many still don’t realize that we have streaming ratings, I somewhat get it. Until now, there was such a long delay between when a show or film came to streaming and when we got its viewership data; I understand why people were confused. (But, as you know, this just changed.) Also, even back in the day, how many people knew how well films did on television? Luckily, as a reader, you’re in the know. Okay, on to this week’s issue. I want to take a look at Prime Video cancelling Ride or Die and whether I agree with that decision. Overall, we didn’t have any breakout hits (no TV shows landed over 20 million hours according to Nielsen) but we have a lot of steady performers on the streaming charts. Plus, we’ll look at where $50 million in missing box office dollars went. (Spoiler: straight-to-streaming.) All that, plus new episodes of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Supergirl heads to streaming, a new YA show does well on Netflix, the viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show, what TV show hit-maker can’t make streaming hits, CD sales, 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 7th to September 13th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - Ride or Die Is a Hit…But It Got Cancelled? What The Data “Says” I hate the phrase “here’s what the data says”, even though sometimes I find myself using it. If data just told us everything, we data folks would be out of a job! Data is often messy, complicated and nuanced. When it comes to strategy, many of the best decisions can’t actually use “data”, since it’s vastly too complicated to model. Anyways, I’ve been singing the praises of Prime Video’s Ride Or Die this summer, a show that did very well for them. And yet…it got cancelled. Now, usually when a show gets cancelled, a bunch of websites say “a hit show got cancelled”... Here’s the thing, though: in this case, they’re right! The data “says” that this show was a hit. Specifically, out of 522 first seasons to make a week on the Nielsen charts since 2020, it’s the 75th biggest. On Amazon, Ride or Die is eighth out of 41 first seasons: That’s top 15th percentile all time, almost exactly, which is my definition of a “hit”! I mean, outside of Reacher, Amazon needed a hit this summer! (Admittedly, Off Campus did well for Amazon in the spring, but Ride or Die performed even better.) So what happened? Why did Amazon cancel one of their rare 2026 bright spots? Well, Deadline reported a reason—which I’ll get to—but I’d break it down into three relevant questions: What is a given streamer’s reasoning? Is that reasoning sound? Could the stated reason not be the real reason? According to Deadline, Amazon felt the show “over-indexed” in middle-aged women. (This was based on leaks from within Amazon.) The logic is this: Amazon already reaches this demographic because of unlimited two-day shipping bundled with Prime, so they don’t really need more shows like this. Now, it’s my job to ask if that’s a good reason, and I’ll be honest, in this case, I don’t think it is. Sure, this show may “over-index” in middle-aged women—I’ll just assume that’s the case here—but I think folks often oversell how important over-indexing actually is. When a show is a “hit”, it isn’t a bit bigger than its rivals; it’s usually multiples bigger. For example, Elle only made the charts for two weeks at 8.3 million hours each. So Ride or Die was 80% bigger in its first two weeks, and likely had a much stronger hold, with its terrific 13 million hours in week three. Ride or Die was nearly three times bigger than Sterling Point through three weeks too. And that means that _Elle, Sterling Point a_nd other Amazon YA shows need to not just over-index a little with younger women (assuming that’s who Amazon prefers over middle-aged women), but massively over-index. Otherwise, more people in that demo (and a bunch more besides) likely watched Ride or Die. (I’ll try to explore this concept more in a future article.) And don’t get me started on how Ride or Die did compared to a certain (very, very popular, possibly the world’s most popular) YouTuber’s reality show…which didn’t make the charts after its first week and likely cost much, much more than Ride or Die. All to say, Amazon-MGM Studios/Prime Video can tell reporters that this show didn’t reach the right audience, but that excuse feels weak to me. So this leads to the third question: could other reasons have come into play? Yes! Renewal or cancellation decisions rarely (I’m tempted to say “never”) boil down to one variable. At its simplest, it’s two things: budget versus viewership. But often factors like critical acclaim, ownership and, yes, personal opinion come into play. In this case, Amazon has a new executive running things, and this show isn’t owned by Amazon-MGM Studios (unlike Elle). And yes, it may not have indexed with the right target viewers, too. Likely all of those factors came into play.1 My guess is ownership ended up mattering most. Amazon doesn’t own Ride or Die. It’s actually produced by another major studio. Fortunately/allegedly, this show is being shopped around. I can think of one brand new CEO who should consider it for one of his two major streamers…especially if he wants to rebuild goodwill in Hollywood. His name is on this list of exec producers of Ride or Die… If David Ellison needs some goodwill—and he does—rescue this female-led show tomorrow and grab some good headlines for a day. The data justifies it. Quick Notes on TV 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… How The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives latest season did on Hulu, post-controversy... Whether Supergirl soared on HBO Max... Why the box office is losing money due to the streamers... The viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show... Updates on The Gentlemen, Lanterns, Outer Banks, King of the Hill and more... What former hit-maker has three streaming flops in a row... Whether The Mandalorian and Grogu popped in week two... All the flops, bombs and misses... And a whole lot 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! Oh man, we’re almost caught up! We just have two more issues, then the streaming Ratings Report will be coming out just two weeks after a TV show premieres! Next issue, I’ll be looking at the first two weeks of the NFL Thursday night games on streaming, a huge new spinoff, Reacher’s Neagly on Prime Video, and the latest edition of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, the return of Slow Horses on Apple and MobLand (quietly one of their biggest shows) on Paramount+, and Dancing with the Stars on both ABC and Disney+. Plus I’ll take a look at animation for adults in 2026. The week after, a ton of movies are coming to streaming: Toy Story 5 on Disney+, Backrooms on HBO Max, Jackass: Best and Last on Paramount+ and The Breadwinner on Netflix, plus a Unabomber film on Netflix and a romcom on Prime Video. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey have a show on Apple, along with a game show inspired by Willy Wonka that everyone seems to hate. Long term, some crazy (but hopefully crazy like a fox) IP news. FX ordered a new Sons of Anarchy show from Charlie Hunnam, but it’s not about the biker gang. No, it features the show’s cast playing themselves in a new “meta-thriller”. Huh. And a lot of the cast is coming back. Next, Ryan Gosling is producing a Flintstones movie about a “grown-up Bamm-Bamm Rubble”. Also, huh. This one is in “early development” so we’ll see what happens. Both projects are based on IP, but also seem to have crazy takes on the IP, which I like.
Sen. Tillis says his vote for Hegseth was 'biggest regret of my career' in new book
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis says in a new book that his deciding vote to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in January 2025 is the “biggest regret of my career” and that he also “should’ve stopped” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from becoming Health and Human Services secretary in the early days of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Judge allows student IDs as fallback for NH voters
A federal judge ruled New Hampshire election officials may consider student IDs as voter identity evidence when no other ID is available, despite a law barring ...
Doctors, Insurers Sue Newsom over Health Insurance Premium Increases
In June, lawmakers passed a healthcare tax that could increase premiums in order to combat federal Medicaid cuts.
Bladen Community College to host “So You Want to Start a Small Business” class and preview Pitch It Bladen 2027
The Small Business Center at Bladen Community College invites aspiring entrepreneurs to attend “So You Want to Start a Small Business” on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Building 14, Room 104. This class will help participants explore what it takes to become an entrepreneur and take the first steps toward turning a business idea into reality.Participants will explore the entrepreneurial mindset and consider whether they have the interests, characteristics, motivation and willingness to take on the challenges of business ownership. The class will encourage attendees to examine their personal goals, expectations, strengths and readiness to pursue entrepreneurship.Attendees will also gain insight into the realities of starting and operating a small business, including the commitment, planning, decision-making and perseverance required to build a successful venture. Whether participants are just beginning to consider business ownership or already have an idea they want to pursue, this class will provide a foundation for determining their next steps.In addition to the class instruction, attendees will receive advance information about the upcoming Pitch It Bladen 2027 Business Competition, including the application form and details about the program. Individuals who are ready to move forward may submit their applications early and have the opportunity to receive advance acceptance into the program.Pitch It Bladen helps aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs develop their business ideas through structured instruction in business planning, financial management, cash-flow projections, marketing and operations. Participants work toward completing a business plan and preparing a business pitch, with the opportunity to compete for cash prizes.Last year's Pitch It Bladen program demonstrated the value of investing in local entrepreneurs by helping participants strengthen their business knowledge, develop their business plans and prepare to present their ideas. The competition showcased the creativity and potential of Bladen County's small-business community and provided participants with practical tools to move their business goals forward.Building on that success, Pitch It Bladen 2027 will provide another opportunity for local entrepreneurs to gain knowledge, build confidence and take meaningful steps toward launching or growing a business.“The Small Business Center wants to help individuals make informed decisions about entrepreneurship before they take the leap into business ownership,” said Theresa Dennison, Small Business Center director, in a press release. “This class gives participants an opportunity to evaluate whether entrepreneurship is right for them while also introducing them to Pitch It Bladen 2027 and the resources available to help them succeed.”Registration: Visit www.ncsbc.net and search for the class by name, or contact the Small Business Center at 910-879-5572 for additional information.
National Health Survey Comes to Southeastern North Carolina
The CDC will collect data from residents in Scotland, Richmond, and Hoke counties as part of an annual health and nutrition survey.
Downtown Boston business owners seek more police presence after survey finds people feel unsafe
The survey by the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Alliance finds that 56% of locals feel less safe in downtown than they did at the start of the year, marking a considerable increase from last year.
A Political Brain Trust in an Upper West Side Building
Dick Gottfried and Ruth Messinger. Photo by Saul Dennis. By Saul Dennis Artists. Politicians. Actors. Chefs. Philosophers. Captains of industry,
Florida running back apologizes to coach after disappointing game
Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh entered Saturday’s game against the Missouri Tigers as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. Unfortunately for him and the Gators, he didn’t exactly perform that way on Saturday. Now, he’s apologizing directly to his coach. Just a week after a lopsided win over Ole Miss thrust the Gators into the…
Ted Cruz Says JD Vance Is ‘Feeling Insecure’ amid ‘Political Bomb-Throwing’ Ahead of 2028 GOP Primary
“In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” the Texas Republican said of the vice president over the weekend
HGTV’s Eilyn Jimenez Shares Health Update After Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
Find out how the 'Divided by Design' host is doing now.
After redistricting, a Black community in Louisiana faces a future without a champion in Congress
Scotlandville is a predominantly Black community in Louisiana, that's facing challenges in its political representation. Residents fear losing a representative who understands their struggles.
How a controversial camera system is monitoring mental health patients
The Lampard Inquiry started back in September 2024 and I remember going to the first hearing in Chelmsford. Subscribe The bereaved families made placards of their loved ones, they stood outside in silence and then laid flowers to mark the moment. Now, two years on, in a process meant to last another two years, there’s been a development. Last week, we were told the chair, Baroness Lampard, pictured below, could be looking at making interim recommendations. Throughout the process, she has remarked that although this inquiry is looking at almost 2,000 people who were under the care of Essex mental health services from 2000-2023 when they died, the findings could have national implications for other trusts. ‘Records 24 hours a day in patient’s bedroom’ So why has this happened? One system that the inquiry is going to take a closer look at is a controversial monitoring system called Oxevision. It monitors some vital signs of patients remotely by using a camera placed in a room. It’s used by 40% of NHS mental health trusts. But campaigners, particularly the group Stop Oxevision, have asked for this technology to be removed from mental health wards as soon as possible. I spoke to a member, Hat Porter, today and they described to me what they thought this technology did and explained their concerns: “It records 24 hours a day and it’s located in a patient’s bedroom, which is obviously somewhere you’d usually expect to be a private place. “Our concerns are that the use of the technology has been has been kind of implemented as a substitute for proper in-person support, that it’s kind of over relied on and that there’s a lot of misunderstandings and that the presence of a camera, which has often been used without people’s consent, sometimes without even their knowledge, that that has a really big impact on privacy, dignity and human rights.” ‘Not sufficient’ I put it to them that the company behind Oxevision would dispute their claims about consent and in videos I’ve seen online from NHS trusts, they make it clear that the technology is complementary to trained staff and not a replacement. [ ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) [ How the Nottingham inquiry shines a spotlight on other key mental health care failings ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) Victoria Macdonald · Feb 12 [ Read full story ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) A team of lawyers has been working on the inquiry and with bereaved family members who have concerns about this technology. I spoke to solicitor Priya Singh, from Hodge Jones & Allen, who made the point that questions usually asked by nurses would be missing from using devices like this. “It’s not sufficient to say, oh, the patient is moving around. Somebody must go in and say, are you okay? Are you distressed? Do you want help? Is there anything I can do? Share Channel 4 News “How are you spending your time? So I think a lot of our families cannot see the function of it when ultimately the patient should only really be observed when they’ve been prescribed to be observed, they can be observed more, but that more should really be happening face to face.” The Chair will hear evidence over the next two weeks and then a decision made after that, which could have national impact if she does decide this technology should be investigated or even removed. The Department of Health and Social Care said: “The Government is committed to ensuring that lessons are learned from the Lampard Inquiry to improve patient safety. “We are confident that the Inquiry will play an important role in identifying wider learnings for the health system following the tragic events in Essex and will contribute to improvements in patient safety.” We approached LIO Health, which runs Oxevision, for comment. Subscribe Share Channel 4 News Leave a comment
Bones About Town takes over Main Street
Spooky season has made its way to Main Street — along with some new residents. Skeletons have taken over lampposts along the street, where they’ll live for all of October.
Enabling, Denying, and Spiking the Proverbial Political Football
ANDOVER TOWNSHIP – Republicans are claiming victory over a proposed data center. But it really isn’t that simple. As one critical observer noted on a Stop Andover Data Center social media page: It was the all-Republican township committee that “opened the door (to a data center) in the first place.” This is a local issue to be sure,[...]
Kyle Juszczyk may miss some time
49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk could be sidelined a few weeks after injuring knee in Week 4
Mundelein resident chosen as finalist in Advocate Health Has Talent competition
Mundelein resident Gerardo Ocampo was driving his wife and child home from the airport when he received a call from his supervisor at Advocate Condell Medical Center.
Flu season is already spiking in Hamilton County local health officials say
Hamilton County health officials are urging residents to get up to date on recommended and school-required vaccinations ahead of the cold and flu season.The Ha
Obama to campaign with El-Sayed in Detroit as ex-president gets more involved in midterms
Obama is upping involvement in the midterm election. He taped two dozen ads last week for Democratic candidates for governor and Senate that will be released in the coming days and weeks.
Doctors Should Keep an Eye on Your Mix of Medication. If They Don’t, You Should.
By Paula Span | KFF Health News Medications can snowball as we age. Pill organizers pile up. Prescriptions that are no longer necessary can mix with other drugs to create concerning side effects. “Once you get to six or seven prescription medications, you get a nearly 100% chance of some sort of ...
Inaugural Delbert E. Day Lecture to be held Oct. 15
The first Delbert E. Day Lecture on Glass Science and Technology will be presented by Dr. Claudio Mazzali, vice president of global research at Corning, Inc. The title of his lecture will be “Precision at Scale: Navigating the Science-to-Factory Continuum that Reshapes Industries for Glass Manufacturing and Beyond.” The lecture will be held at 3:30...Continue Reading Inaugural Delbert E. Day Lecture to be held Oct. 15
Warner Bros. Executive Gerhard Zeiler to Enter Politics in Austria
Gerhard Zeiler, president of international for Warner Bros. Discovery, has declared his intention to enter politics in Austria.
Hello from Seattle: XBOX FanFest Comes Home November 12
Seattle, we’re coming home. XBOX FanFest is coming on Thursday, November 12, 2026 - find out what to expect and how to attend inside.
Business Insider expands Discourse team and hires Arielle Pardes
Our Discourse team, led by executive editor Zak Jason and focused on agenda-setting topical features, is expanding.
Steelers Sign Super Bowl Champion Cornerback
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing veteran cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad, according to NFL insider […]
1.2K views · 22 reactions | Nobel Prize 2026 explained: the...
Nobel Prize 2026 explained: the breakthrough that lets scientists switch brain cells on and off with light. Known as optogenetics, this technology helps researchers map the brain and uncover the...
Mental health stigma in Japan may deter care
A UC Riverside–led study of mental health stigma in Japan has found a striking gap between the need for treatment and people's willingness to seek it, with high levels of social distancing toward people ...
Entertainment Partners Names UK Boss For European Expansion
EXCLUSIVE: Production management and entertainment payroll firm Entertainment Partners (EP) has a new boss in Britain. Chris Gratton has today been named Executive Vice President and Managing Director...
Entertainment Partners Names UK Boss For European Expansion
Chris Gratton has been named Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Entertainment Partners' UK business.
St. Louis Prehistoric Life Show brings free fossil fun to the Science Center
The inaugural St. Louis Prehistoric Life Show invites families to crack open rocks, identify fossils, meet paleontologists, and more.
Trump is clearly trying to buy votes with taxpayer money
President Donald Trump is ramping up his efforts to use taxpayer money and resources to help Republicans win the 2026 midterm elections.
RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark E. Manigan Named 2026 NJBIZ Executive Excellence Honoree
Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer of RWJBarnabas Health, the largest, most comprehensive academic health system in New Jersey, has been named a 2026 Executive Excellence honoree by NJBIZ, recognizing his leadership and impact on New Jersey’s health care landscape. Mr. Manigan and the other honorees will be recognized by NJBIZ at an awards ceremony taking place today.
iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?
Apple released the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026, five years after the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The 2021 models introduced ProMotion displays, macro photography, a 3x Telephoto camera, and substantially longer battery life than their predecessors. They remain capable phones and support iOS 27, but owners now have five generations of upgrades to consider.
Concerns About Tinubu’s Health
As the next presidential election looms, anxiety about the Nigerian president’s physical condition is growing.
Concerns About Tinubu’s Health
As the next presidential election looms, anxiety about the Nigerian president’s physical condition is growing.
Philanthropy: Q+A with Gerun Riley
Gerun Riley is president of the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, a role she has held since 2016 after 13 years working for the Broads – who have given
Review: Metallica lives the dream on opening weekend of Sphere residency
LAS VEGAS — “I had a dream last night,” Metallica singer James Hetfield said. “We were playing the Sphere. “So cool.” Indeed, it was, James. Yet, it wasn’t a dream.
Patrina Amato | 40 Under 40 2026
Patrina Amato, vice president of Servicing at United Wholesale Mortgage, is a 2026 Crain's Detroit Business 40 Under 40 honoree.
‘Primetime’: Is catching predators justice or just entertainment?
Rating: ★★★½ Starring Robert Pattinson, Skyler Gisondo, Merritt Wever Directed by Lance Oppenheim Rated R Release Date: Sept. 25, 2026 A man waits unknowingly inside a sting house. His eyes draw up to the sound of curtains ruffling as Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson), host of Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator,” enters flamboyantly. Hansen descends...
Philanthropy: Q+A with William Ahmanson
William Ahmanson is the president of the Ahmanson Foundation, which financier Howard F. Ahmanson and his wife, Dorothy Grannis Ahmanson, established in
Health care aide charged in assault of disabled resident at Halfmoon facility
A Schenectady woman working as a health care aide has been charged after State Police said a disabled resident was assaulted at a Halfmoon care facility.
Here's What Capcom Said About Using Generative AI In The RE Engine: 'AI Is Not A Replacement For Humans'
Capcom want to evolve RE Engine into an engine for the AI generation, but not turn it into an engine powered by generative AI over humans
Muchacho comes to Decatur; Kelly’s Market under new ownership
Muchacho, a West Coast-style taco shop with locations in Atlanta, plans to open its third spot in Decatur. The city will consider its alcohol license on Oct. 5, after police approval.
‘A five-alarm fire’ confronts President Trump in red-state October blitz
The midterm elections were just two days away the last time a sitting president visited Grand Island, the fourth-largest city in the middle of one of the nation’s most reliably Republican states.
RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark E. Manigan Named 2026 NJBIZ Executive Excellence Honoree
Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer of RWJBarnabas Health, the largest, most comprehensive academic health system in New Jersey, has been named a 2026 Executive Excellence honoree by NJBIZ, recognizing his leadership and impact on New Jersey’s health care landscape.
National Museum of Natural History’s Sant Director Kirk Johnson To Depart for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Kirk Johnson announced today that he will step down as the Sant Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History after 14 years in the role, as he prepares to join the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as its next president and CEO. An advocate for science, nature and the power of museums to influence the […]
Alexandria Health Department no longer offering free COVID-19, flu tests
The department is providing flu shots only to uninsured residents and has issued guidance for the respiratory virus season
Michael Duff set to be given the Bradford job
Bradford City are expected to name Michael Duff as the new manager according to reports.The Bantams have been looking for a new boss after Graham Alexander left the club to join Championship side Pre...
Weaner Pig Breakeven at $22.46, Up $12.25 From Last Week
When you consider that today’s purchased weaner would be sold in March 2027 using April 2027 futures, the weaner breakeven was $22.46, up $12.25 for the week, and $0.57 below the average cash price for the week of $23.03.
Supermassive Games Layoffs Arrive With Over 70 People Let Go
More than 70 people have seemingly lost their jobs at Supermassive Games, as another batch of layoffs hits the gaming industry.
Anti-trans ballot measures are a political test run for the 2028 presidential election
LGBTQ+ movement leaders warn that anti-trans ballot measures in five states could become a testing ground for a broader political strategy in the 2028 presidential election.
GTA VI Writers Sidestep Trump and MAGA, as Rockstar’s Rupert Humphries Says Florida Satire Targets Conspiracy Theories Instead
Rockstar said there won't be any references to specific trends or persons in GTA VI, as the game focuses on stuff like conspiracy theories.
Permits issued for $22 million Perkins Road elementary school, new Southern Classic Chicken location
Here is a list of commercial and residential building permits issued by East Baton Rouge Parish Government from Sept. 28-Oct. 2.
Chevron elevates CFO to head oil and gas operations
HOUSTON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Chevron Chief Financial Officer Eimear Bonner will become president of the US oil producer's oil, products and gas business, the company said on Monday.
Scientists Created a Computer Inside a Water Drop Using Billions of DNA Molecules and It Worked
You won’t believe it, but DNA molecules can turn even a tiny drop of water into a computer.
Eminem and Kid Rock Preach Political Unity After Years on Opposite Sides
Eminem and Kid Rock found common ground despite their political differences. The longtime friends reunited for “7 Sins,” a new track that Kid Rock said could offer a lesson about staying connected des...
2026 Outstanding Women in Business
The 18th annual Outstanding Women in Business awards recognize a dozen well-accomplished professionals from across the region and in many industries who go above and beyond. The committee selected the winners from more than 80 nominations, all of whom were worthy. The criteria evaluated each nominee’s professional achievements, community impact, ability to break the glass ceiling and mentorship of other professionals, particularly women. In addition to profiling these women in the following pages, the Worcester Business Journal will celebrate this year’s Outstanding Women in Business at a special luncheon on Oct. 28 at the College of the Holy Cross. To join the celebration of these exceptional women, visit WBJournal.com and register. – Mark Conti, editor This Year’s Judges Worcester Business Journal considered 54 Central Massachusetts professionals for the 2026 Outstanding Women in Business awards, based on 83 nominations. These nominees were independently evaluated by two volunteer judges, who scored each on their professional achievements, community contribution and mentorship of young professionals. Samantha P. McDonald is a partner at Bowditch. She is an experienced, client-focused real estate lawyer, concentrating on business and real estate property law. She has been recognized as a WBJ Power 100 in the Class of 2026 and a “Top Women of Law” in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Dr. Kavita Babu is chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs at Heywood Healthcare, where she provides strategic and clinical leadership to advance high-quality, patient-centered care across the organization. She is also a member of the WBJ Outstanding Women in Business Class of 2025.
Some mental health providers hoping to serve Lane County's Oregon Health Plan members say they’re facing barriers
Aspire is one of a few healthcare providers in Lane County that told KLCC they want to – but haven’t been able to – get a contract with Lane County's Medicaid insurer Trillium. That’s left Aspire without access to its target population, and other providers considering scaling back their services.
Jeffries says House Democrats aiming to repeat 2018 sweep by flipping Trump districts
The Democratic Party is working to expand the map by going on offense in Republican-held districts, while President Donald Trump hits the trail in a red-state sprint to boost voter enthusiasm and shore up support from his base.
Apple Watch Prime Day Deals Arrive With New All-Time Low Prices for Series 12 and Ultra 4
Big Apple Watch discounts have started arriving ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, including new low prices on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. These deals join some Apple Watch SE 3 discounts that we began tracking over the weekend, alongside other major early Prime Big Deal Days markdowns. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Dhar Mann says YouTubers aren't his rivals. Hollywood is.
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA − Dhar Mann doesn't consider other digital content creators his competition.
'Sabores of South Philly' offers personal look inside Latino-owned businesses of AEM
'Sabores of South Philly' is a marketing campaign launched this year by the Association of Mexican Business Owners, or AEM. The networking organization has over 70 members who are all entrepreneurs of Latino descent who own businesses throughout the city.
Bolsonaro and Lula head to a runoff in Brazil's presidential election
Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, an ally of President Donald Trump, and Brazil’s incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will face off in a runoff Oct. 25 for the top job of Latin America’s powerhouse economy after neither won a majority in Sunday's vote.
Why your health insurance problem might not be over when you turn 65
Couples with an age gap have an extra consideration: How to continue coverage for the younger spouse who’s not yet eligible for Medicare.
Health Brief: Exclusive | Inside the new health price transparency rules
Plus: Trump’s checks to Medicare enrollees could complicate year-end health care negotiations,
Is it legal? Trump promises Medicare and ACA checks without Congress ahead of midterm elections
President Trump is promising $90 payments to more than 20 million Medicare seniors and $500 refunds to nearly 1 million ACA enrollees, bypassing Congress and raising legal questions from Democrats.
Marvel's 'Project COMET' First Gameplay Trailer Allegedly Leaks
We've heard rumors and talk of Project COMET for weeks, and the new Marvel game has reportedly had its first footage leaked.
Three Japanese regional banks consider business integration
The Japanese lenders concerned are Procrea Holdings, Akita Bank, and Bank of Iwate.
MLB News Outside The Confines: The Postseason hits the roof
All the news from the playoffs, including Drew Rasmussen, Ty France and the Brewers.
New TV shows to watch this week: Tune in to 'Cupertino' on CBS, stream 'Carrie' on Prime Video and revisit 'The Haunting of Hill House' on Netflix
The new TV shows worth watching — from the HBO divorce drama "War" to Netflix's "East of Eden" adaptation and a seaside mystery starring Josh Hartnett.
Poole College Broadens Access to Graduate Business Leadership Certificate
Graduate students from any discipline, as well as prospective learners from outside NC State, may now pursue the certificate.
Instinct users say its AI agent is pushing unsolicited products
Instinct users say the AI agent sent unsolicited shopping picks, raising questions about whether it's monetizing their data.
Keller on what happens when all politics is actually national
President Trump's Massachusetts numbers and what they mean for GOP candidates
WISeSat.Space Completes Business Combination and Begins Nasdaq Trading
WISeSat.Space has completed its business combination with Columbus Acquisition Corp. and started trading on Nasdaq as SAIQ.
Jobs in health care. Jobs for women. The US labour market is segmenting. Chernobyl’s radiation and Lenin’s love of literature.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Elmer Bischoff, Two Figures at the Seashore, 1957 The only really dynamic job-creator in the US economy is health care: The largest crunch has come in Federal government, which has shed 2.7 m jobs. Source: tchouvkov on Twitter Tech is struggling. [ Joey Politano 🏳️🌈@JosephPolitano The US tech sector continues bleeding jobs in official data released today—overall, employment decreased by 17k last month and is down 69k over the last year That's nearly as bad as the worst of the 2024 tech-cession, and much worse than the 2022 boom or even pre-2020 norms 12:42 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 15.2K Views 15 Replies · 47 Reposts · 390 Likes ](https://x.com/JosephPolitano/status/2106001807847940232?s=20) The new jobs are all for women. [ Justin Wolfers@JustinWolfers I'm not sure who saw this coming, but so far nearly all the jobs created during the second Trump administration have gone to women. 1:09 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 33K Views 70 Replies · 146 Reposts · 644 Likes ](https://x.com/JustinWolfers/status/2106008723533533601?s=20) Meanwhile, real wages are being eaten up by modest over-target inflation. [ Heather Long@byHeatherLong The financial pain is real: Wage growth fell to 3% (y/y) in September. That's the lowest in 5 years. Wage growth: 3% Inflation: ~3.4% Inflation has eaten up all wage gains for the average worker since April. Many people are having to make hard choices about what to buy and what … 1:24 PM · Oct 2, 2026 · 37K Views 24 Replies · 275 Reposts · 533 Likes ](https://x.com/byHeatherLong/status/2106012367712620728?s=20) HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $60. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe Elmer Bischoff, Bathers, 1960 Americans are disillusioned with higher ed. For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Where the Chernobyl radiation went. h/t Simon Kuestenmacher aka simongerman600 How Lenin’s love of literature shaped the Russian Revolution - Tariq Ali This, then, was the intellectual atmosphere in which Lenin came of age. His father, a highly cultured conservative, was the chief inspector of schools in his region and much respected as an educationalist. At home, Shakespeare, Goethe and Pushkin, among others, were read aloud on Sunday afternoons. It was impossible for the Ulyanov family – “Lenin” was a pseudonym adopted to outwit the tsarist secret police – to escape high culture. At high school, Lenin fell in love with Latin. His headteacher had high hopes that he might become a philologist and Latin scholar. History willed otherwise, but Lenin’s passion for Latin, and taste for the classics, never left him. He read Virgil, Ovid, Horace and Juvenal in the original, as well as Roman senatorial orations. He devoured Goethe during his two decades in exile, reading and rereading Faust many times. Lenin put his knowledge of the classics to good use in the time leading up to the October revolution of 1917. In April of that year, he broke with Russian social-democratic orthodoxy and, in a set of radical theses, called for a socialist revolution in Russia. A number of his own close comrades denounced him. In a sharp riposte, Lenin quoted Mephistopheles from Goethe’s masterwork: “Theory, my friend, is grey, but green is the eternal tree of life.” Source: The Guardian Elmer Bischoff, The River, 1953 If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
Yale School of Medicine On the Science of Childhood Anxiety, Say, Anxiety Disorders Are the Most Common Mental Health Challenges In Youth
Credit: Matt Bradbury October 5, 2026 - By Isabella Backman - Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health challenges in youth. Left untreated, they can disrupt the lives of both children and their families. The good news is that with intervention, most children will overcome these conditions. Across Yale School of Medicine, scientists are working to understand anxiety at every level, from common anxious behaviors to molecular biomarkers in the brain. They are using their findings to develop and disseminate new evidence-based treatments for childhood anxiety. Today, the go-to treatment for childhood anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a form of psychotherapy that teaches children skills for confronting anxious thoughts and helps them practice managing situations that cause anxiety. While it is the gold-standard treatment backed by considerable scientific evidence, up to 50% of children will not see sufficient benefit from CBT alone. Wendy Silverman, PhD, Alfred A. Messer Professor in the Child Study Center, co-directs the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program alongside Eli Lebowitz, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center. One of their main interests is learning how to improve outcomes beyond CBT. “We’re developing cutting-edge, research-based knowledge that can reduce the suffering that anxiety causes children and their families,” says Silverman. Changing parent behavior YSM experts are investigating how to improve CBT outcomes for children by involving the parents. Silverman’s research has uncovered two main components of parent intervention that improve childhood anxiety: not enabling children to completely avoid the things that make them anxious and taking steps to enhance their autonomy. Parents may unintentionally reinforce their child’s anxiety by allowing them to avoid what makes them anxious. They also may unintentionally limit the children’s sense of autonomy by being overly intrusive. “One of the things that we take pride in is that we’ve focused on trying to understand what parents need to do, and to test our ideas and see if changing the parents’ behaviors is enhancing the effects of CBT,” Silverman says. “Our findings thus far suggest that they do." As much as CBT can be helpful, it can also be challenging to get one’s child to do the necessary steps for CBT to work. This is one important reason why Lebowitz created a novel intervention program for parents named Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). Existing intervention programs often teach parents to act as therapists for their child, such as training them on how to practice breathing exercises. “It makes sense, but this doesn’t work very well in practice,” says Lebowitz. “And part of the reason, I think, is that it’s not easy to get your kid to do things, especially if they’re not excited about doing it.” SPACE is unique because it focuses entirely on parent involvement and changing parental behavior—children are not involved in the sessions. For example, parents learn how to use supportive messages that convey confidence that their child can tolerate and manage distress. “It might sound like a parent saying to a child, ‘I get that this is really hard for you, but I know that you can handle it,’” Lebowitz says. The program also works with parents to identify the ways in which they are accommodating anxious behaviors. “We’ll pick one thing that parents are doing that is an accommodation and help them make a detailed plan for how they’re going to change that,” Lebowitz explains. Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Much of the existing research on SPACE has focused on parents of children under age 14. Ongoing studies are now exploring its use with parents of older teens. “Both anxiety and accommodation can interfere with normative developmental shifts during the teen years, including increased autonomy and individuation from parents,” says Rebecca Etkin, PhD, associate research scientist in the Child Study Center. “In this sense, SPACE may be particularly well-suited for anxious teens and their parents. We want to see whether it is effective during this distinct developmental window.” Unfortunately, many families in need of CBT face barriers, including limited availability of services and geographic constraints. One way to improve access is digital interventions. Silverman and her team are developing an evidence-based digitized intervention program for parents that they can access directly from their computer or smart phone. “The work we’re doing will be one of the very few parent interventions that is digitized and importantly tested for effectiveness,” she says. Creating interventions for anxiety-related challenges Silverman and Lebowitz recently received a generous gift to develop and test other interventions that help parents reduce other child anxiety-related behavioral and emotional difficulties, such as restrictive eating and unexplained somatic symptoms. One of these projects in particular focuses on understanding the risks of social media and its potential benefits, including offering a sense of connection. “A lot of research has focused on the idea that social media is harmful and the less of it the better,” says Lebowitz. “But we actually see is that this is not quite right—there are negatives, but there are also positives. So, we’re trying to get a little bit more nuanced of a picture.” The team is working with teens with social anxiety and their parents over an extended period to better understand their social media habits and how their anxiety levels affect engagement with different platforms. The teens will answer questions sent to an app on their phones about mood and social media usage in an effort to capture emotional responses as they unfold. “We hope to develop interventions that can help make the best of social media while protecting against the more problematic effects,” Lebowitz says. The brain’s role in anxiety Researchers are also testing therapies to address anxiety at the neurological and molecular levels. In collaboration with Dylan Gee, PhD, professor of psychology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Hilary Blumberg, MD, John and Hope Furth Professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine, Lebowitz and Silverman are using brain imaging to identify changes in a child’s brain before and after parents enroll in SPACE. In one study, children viewed anxiety-inducing images while undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the researchers conducted scans with and without the children’s parents nearby. Before SPACE, children’s brains were better able to activate the regulatory circuitry needed to turn off an anxious response when their parents were nearby. But after SPACE, children could activate this circuitry even without the parent around. “As parents work on gradually reducing some of their accommodations, you can see a child get better at regulating their own fear system in the brain,” Lebowitz says. “It’s remarkable.” Research into the molecular underpinnings of anxiety can also inform new childhood anxiety treatments. In a recent study, Lebowitz, Silverman, and Flora Vaccarino, MD, Harris Professor in the Child Study Center, discovered that a protein known as fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) could be protective from the toxic effects of stress. FGF2 levels in children and their parents were linked to the children’s risk of developing anxiety and depression, the study showed. The findings could help explain why some children who are exposed to early life trauma such as poverty or abuse are more prone to developing mental health disorders. And FGF2 could be a target for treatment. “This is very novel because it starts to give a clue to what is the molecular chain that connects those lived experiences to the actual psychological outcomes,” Lebowitz says. New ways to study and treat childhood anxiety Michael Crowley, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center, collaborates with Silverman and Lebowitz to study the role that attention plays in development and maintenance of childhood anxiety. There is a large body of research that shows that anxious children, like anxious adults, are prone to focus on threatening stimuli such as angry faces compared with neutral faces. This has led to innovative interventions that involve attention retraining. The idea is that if experts train children to look away from threatening stimuli, it may reduce their anxiety—especially children with social anxiety who are most prone to attend to threats. The researchers have just completed a clinical trial for attention retraining with 10- to 14-year-olds with social anxiety disorders and are currently analyzing the findings. Besides this innovative attention retraining research, as Crowly notes, “I like to design tasks that are engaging to kids,” Crowley says. “My goal is to assess something without the kids knowing what we are assessing.” With this goal in mind, Crowley has created a virtual game, named Boom, to study threat processing in children with anxiety disorders. The game is similar to that of hot potato—the child and three digital players take turns virtually passing a ball to each other’s gloves. At some point, the ball turns into a bomb, and as the bomb lands in each player’s glove, the outline of the glove turns yellow. The goal is to avoid having the bomb go off in your glove. What isn’t obvious is that the game is designed to measure different types of threatening stimuli, both ambiguous and direct. In the game, the direct threat occurs as the bomb is traveling towards your glove. The ambiguous threat is the yellow outlined glove as it is unknown where the bomb will travel next. While children play the game, Crowley’s team measures their brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). The researchers have discovered that in kids with anxiety, the brain reacts more strongly to ambiguous threats than it does in their peers, but less strongly to direct threats. They believe that the initial abnormally large brain response to not knowing where the bomb is going impairs the brain's ability to properly respond when the threat is actually traveling the child’s way. “The brains of children with anxiety are unable to differentiate between threats you need to do something about and those that are not your problem.” Michael Crowley, PhD, develops innovative games for studying anxiety in children and adolescents.Credit: Matt Bradbury Based on these insights, Crowley hopes to study whether interventions like attention training could restore appropriate threat processing. Crowley’s team is also working on a test called the Balloon Risk Avoidance Task, which evaluates risk-taking and avoidance behaviors. It features a digital balloon that is full of air and about to burst. Kids have six seconds to let air out of the balloon. The more air they let out, the less risk they face that the balloon will pop. But at the same time, the balloon becomes less valuable as it deflates. “The more air you keep in the balloon, the more points you get,” Crowley explains. So far, the researchers have found that when the balloons pop unexpectedly, teens with social anxiety show distinct brain responses. Studying these responses can help psychologists understand the underlying pathways driving the various manifestations of anxiety. The genetics of anxiety When Thomas Fernandez, MD, associate professor in the Child Study Center and of psychiatry, was still in training, there was a lot of excitement about understanding the genetics associated with autism spectrum disorder. Since then, scientists have identified around 250 genes associated with autism. The genetic contribution to anxiety disorders, on the other hand, has historically received less attention. Anxiety is less heritable than autism, but the genetic contribution for anxiety disorders that emerge in childhood may be higher than for anxiety disorders overall. While scientists estimate the heritability of anxiety disorders in general to be around 30% to 50%, some studies suggest higher heritability for certain childhood-onset anxiety presentations. “I saw firsthand how researchers in the field went about finding vulnerability genes for autism,” Fernandez says. “So, we’re using a very similar playbook for childhood anxiety.” “I saw firsthand how researchers in the field went about finding vulnerability genes for autism. So, we’re using a very similar playbook for childhood anxiety.” Thomas Fernandez, MD Associate Professor In the Child Study Center and in Psychiatry Now, Fernandez and Emily Olfson, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Child Study Center, are studying children and their parents to identify genetic changes that are present in the child but not the parents, known as “de novo mutations.” “All of us have some de novo mutations—maybe about 50 to 100 sprinkled throughout the genome,” Olfson says. “But when they occur within the coding regions of genes, they can be really disruptive.” Previous research shows that people with autism have higher rates of damaging de novo mutations than the general population. In 2022, Olfson, Lebowitz, Silverman, and Fernandez published a study on 68 children and their families that found that children with anxiety had similarly high levels of these mutations. Studying de novo mutations can help point the researchers to where they should be looking for genes associated with anxiety. “The end game is using the genes to steer us toward the right part of biology that we can then target to come up with better treatments,” Fernandez says. Building on those findings, the team is now studying more families to better understand how these de novo mutations, along with other genetic and environmental factors, shape pediatric anxiety disorders. They recently received a National Institutes of Health grant to enroll 750 new families over the next five years. Olfson is the principal investigator, with co-investigators Lebowitz, Fernandez, Silverman, and Shuangge Steven Ma, PhD, department chair and professor of biostatistics at Yale School of Public Health. Neurodevelopment, Risk Genes, and Mental Health Conditions - The Olfson Lab Joel Gelernter, MD, Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry, is interested in how different anxiety disorders differ genomically. “We are studying social phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, working to understand why people differ in their risk to these specific anxiety disorders and evaluating various risk factors,” he says. Gelernter was recently involved in one of the largest studies to date of the genomics underlying anxiety disorder. The study included around 122,000 people with anxiety disorders and around 730,000 without. It found that some genetic differences associated with anxiety were linked to signaling that helps reduce overactivity in the nervous system. Many anxiety medications available today work by targeting this process. “It’s nice when the biology that you get out of a large genome-wide study ratifies things that we already know because that can help increase confidence in further findings from the study,” Gelernter says. Uncovering the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders John Krystal, MD, Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, is interested in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), of which anxiety is a major symptom. In the late 1980s, Krystal’s team discovered that the drug yohimbine activated symptoms in patients with PTSD. “This was the first time we could link a specific biological mechanism to the symptoms of PTSD,” Krystal says. At the time, he adds, this finding was highly controversial. “A lot of people felt that PTSD was a purely psychological syndrome that didn’t have an underlying biology.” Since then, Krystal has dived deep into understanding the neurobiology of PTSD to learn how to better treat it. His team is evaluating the use of ketamine and psychedelics. These would be among the first treatments to be developed specifically for PTSD. They may also be applicable for other disorders including anxiety disorders, Krystal adds. An important gap in PTSD treatment is the absence of biological tests that inform how to best help patients manage their PTSD symptoms. A doctor doesn’t diagnose cancer based on how they feel. Rather, they use tests of the biology of the cancer to determine the best course of treatment. “And we can’t do that in any psychiatric disorder other than Alzheimer’s disease,” Krystal says. “But now we are building a foundation for this approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders for the first time.” Source: Yale School of Medicine