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Xbox is putting monthly time limits on cloud gaming
Xbox will cap cloud-gaming hours for Game Pass members in November. Players can buy additional playtime, the company wrote.
1Password Users Flee Platform After $300,000 Donation. Should You Run, Too?
1Password faces backlash over a $300,000 pledge to a foundation connected to David Heinemeier Hansson. Should you switch to Bitwarden?
Missouri candidate charged with trying to plant cocaine on his political rival
A candidate for the Missouri House has made an initial court appearance on a federal drug charge accusing him of trying to plant cocaine and Adderall on his Republican primary opponent.
Democrats promise a big agenda if they win control of Congress, but their unity is being tested
Beginning on Day One, House Democrats plan to "hold the crooks accountable." That's the promise House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has made, previewing an ambitious agenda if Democrats seize majority control from Republicans in the midterm elections.
Two Republican nominees for Kansas House withdraw from ballot due to health complications
A pair of Kansas House Republicans — Clarke Sanders and Cody Ward — decide not to seek election on the November ballot due to significant health challenges.
Nico Collins Named Texans' Most Irreplaceable Offensive Weapon for 2026
Nico Collins stands as the Houston Texans' most irreplaceable offensive weapon entering the 2026 NFL season amidst receiving corps injuries.
Microsoft opens up Xbox Cloud Gaming with new pay-as-you-go option
Microsoft is trying once again to tempt people without an Xbox into its ecosystem.
Kissing apes, anti-splash urinals: This year's Ig Nobels showcase surprising science
The Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded this week for humorous yet thought-provoking research. This year, the ceremony came with a twist.
Microsoft slashes Xbox Cloud Gaming to just 15 hours a month for Ultimate subscribers
The new cloud gaming hourly restrictions come nearly a year after all Game Pass subscribers got cloud access.
Kissing apes, anti-splash urinals: This year's Ig Nobels showcase surprising science
The Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded this week for humorous yet thought-provoking research. This year, the ceremony came with a twist.
Gloria Steinem in Her Own Words on Women's Rights, Abortion Politics and Being Called the B-Word
In interviews and emails, Gloria Steinem shared with Associated Press reporters over the years her thoughts on social changes she had witnessed as a leading voice for women, the importance of abortion rights and the correct way to respond when being called the B-word. The author and feminist icon ...
Mortgage rates jump to highest level in over a year
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose this week to 6.71%, according to the latest Freddie Mac data released Thursday. That is up from last week's reading of 6.66%.
Mass. R&D Tax change hits small businesses with big bills
Potentially thousands of Massachusetts businesses may be facing large tax bills as a result of the state’s decision to “decouple” from the R&D deduction provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
GOP lawmaker says he expects McConnell will return to Capitol Hill later this month after lengthy absence
House Oversight Chair James Comer of Kentucky said Thursday that Sen. Mitch McConnell’s staff have told him they are hoping the senator – who has had an extended absence from Washington due to health issues – will return when the Senate comes back into session on September 14.
NVIDIA PAIR Turns Your Idle Home PCs Into A Local AI Cluster, Killing $1,200-Per-Month Cloud API Bills
NVIDIA has introduced PAIR, a new way to combine and distribute AI inference across your home devices without any hardware installation.
Nvidia wants to turn your house of gaming PCs into an AI supercomputer
Nvidia's free RTX PAIR app spreads local AI workloads across multiple GPUs on your network, dramatically cutting down on processing times.
Fermi Explorer: Sending A Spacecraft On A 55,000-Mile-Per-Hour Mission To Alpha Centauri To Tackle The Fermi Paradox
The team hopes to launch to Alpha Centauri in 2029, in an attempt to tackle the Fermi paradox. The mission will not be a quick one.
You'll Need To Pay $100 To Play Final Fantasy 7 Revelation 24 Hours Early
The Premium Edition isn't even the most expensive
Hundreds of thousands of eligible kids are waiting for childcare assistance
Childcare assistance funded in part by the federal government is supposed to aid working parents who are low-income or caring for foster children
Hundreds of thousands of eligible kids are waiting for childcare assistance
Childcare assistance funded in part by the federal government is supposed to aid working parents who are low-income or caring for foster children
Final Fantasy Resonance Is an HD-2D Turn-Based RPG That Brings in Heroes From Final Fantasy's Past
Final Fantasy Resonance feels like it’s walking a tightrope between being a loving tribute to Final Fantasies past while also taking the series into a cool new direction and telling its own story. Is it going to pull it off? We’ll have to wait and see, but I was very impressed by the hour I spent playing it. From the gorgeous HD-2D aesthetic to the awesome soundtrack and a battle system that can hold its own, Resonance looks like it’s doing all the right stuff.
Compete Across Entrepreneurial Endeavors in the GTA Online Business Rivalries Event
Put your criminal enterprises to work all throughout September during the GTA Online Business Rivalries Event, steering the invisible hand of the free market in your favor with profitable bonuses for Executives, Bikers, Gunrunners, and Nightclub Owners.
Feminist icon Gloria Steinem dies at 92
Steinem was a celebrated author and activist who became one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women’s movement and a fierce advocate for feminist causes throughout her life.
Gloria Steinem's touching tribute to doctor who made her abortion possible
Though much of her writing was personal, among Gloria Steinem's most moving work was a dedication to the doctor who helped her obtain an abortion.
Billionaire investor Leon Black sues and declines to testify in House committee’s Epstein investigation
Billionaire investor Leon Black is suing the House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein to try and block the panel from obtaining his non-disclosure agreements and testimony.
Seattle science powerhouses bet big on AI-designed biology
A new $95 million project could yield cancer treatments, genetic switches and plastic-eating enzymes.
The Politics Hour: Will Loudoun pause data centers?
Loudoun County Board Chair Phyllis Randall on the big vote on a data center mortarium and NOTUS's Martin Austermuhle talks local law enforcement's use of Flock cameras.
My unsung hero of science: Harriet Taylor Mill, the radical feminist philosopher who lived in the shadow of her husband
Taylor Mill cut to the heart of issues in political thought such as patriarchy, socio-economic justice and freedom.
Comparing Qatar's famous QSuite on its 777 and A350 jets, photos
I spent 22 hours flying in Qatar Airways' award-winning QSuite on 2 different plane types. Here's the one I prefer and why.
Scientists Just Made a Game-Changing Discovery: Diamonds Can Produce Electricity
Scientists long thought this pricey piece of carbon held no piezoelectric properties, but a new study says that isn’t the case.
Student explores link between social media use and mental health in youth
The American Psychological Association estimates that teens are spending an average of five hours a day on social media. At Kennesaw State University, one student is examining whether this prolonged use can also impact their mental health. Through KSU’s First-Year Scholars Program, Chance Lundy, a Keeping Sights Upward Journey Honors College student, studied the relationship between frequent social media use and suicidal ideation among adolescents.
“Shohei Ohtani Is Absolutely Cooked” – MLB Fans Sound The Alarm After Dodgers Superstar Gets Struck Out 4 Times In Loss To Cardinals
Fans expressed concern over LA Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani after he struck out four times in the team’s 8-6 loss to the Cardinals at home on Wednesday. The Japanese two-way phenom has gone 12 games without a home run or an RBI.
Sports betting isn't legal in Texas. So why is DraftKings available?
Texans have access to some DraftKings products even though traditional sports betting remains prohibited in the state.
Entertainment briefs | ‘4 Cool Bands’ perform at Arcata Playhouse
“SoniX at the Graves,” an immersive sound experience, is slated for Sept. 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Morris Graves Museum of Art, 636 F St., Eureka.
YouTube Gold: Appalachian State Shocks The World
The Big Ten has been a football powerhouse for more than a century, and the main driving forces of that dominance have almost always been Ohio State and Michigan. Michigan Stadium, generally known as the Big House, seats 107,601, but they can squeeze in 115,000 on a big day when the fire Marshall’s not looking. […]
Poll: Next steps for Philly's natural science museum
Take our poll and let us know what you think should be done with one of the city's most prized institutions.
LSU’s AD shares ideas to save college sports from financial ruin: ‘It’s not sustainable, the cliff is coming.’
LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry shared his thoughts on how the college sports world can save itself from a potential financial crisis.
Berkshire Hathaway AI strategy: Greg Abel bets on data-center power
Greg Abel explains Berkshire's Alphabet bet, data-center power plans, and cautious view of the US housing market.
Kayshon Boutte opens up about trade from Patriots to Texans
The wide receiver was sent to Houston last month.
A CT community transformed a once barren wasteland. How it became a food, entertainment and housing mecca.
A City Council member who lives in the area said the work has greatly improved the quality of life for residents; others say it’s now a destination for visitors from three states.
Democrats vow aggressive investigations into Trump ‘corruption’ and ‘grift’ if they win the House
Rep. Robert Garcia would most likely chair the Oversight Committee, while Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is in line to chair the Judiciary Committee. Here’s how they would use that power.
In 2010, US scientists released dye into Montana’s Missouri River and tracked it across 41.2 miles; one reservoir held the plume for 8.2 hours, helping predict chemical-spill timing
A river can carry a contaminant far beyond the point where it enters the water, but predicting exactly how quickly that material will travel is not always straightforward. In 2010, scientists with the U.S.
FDA pilot offers generative AI medical devices a path to patients before they are authorized
AI products from Cadence and Limbic are among four devices recently accepted into the FDA’s TEMPO pilot that will allow digital health companies to release products without marketing authorization.
Following Nintendo's example, Sony and Microsoft argue they have no obligation to pass tariff refunds onto customers
Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are in agreement that you shouldn't expect refunds for paying extra for their products as a result of US tariffs.
Euro zone overall business growth held steady in August, PMI shows
Growth in the euro zone's dominant services industry slipped to a two-month low in August though solid and broad-based demand kept overall private sector activity on an even keel, a survey showed on Thursday.
Vanderbilt looks to build on historic season vs. Austin Peay
Senior Blaze Berlowitz edged out top recruit Jared Curtis to earn the start at quarterback, though both signal-callers are expected to take snaps for the Commodores against the No. 14 FCS Governors.
John Gillispie: Sheep characters unravel a mystery
Movies & More reviewer John Gillispie shares his thoughts on “The Sheep Detectives,” which is rated PG and available on DVD.
Chinese e-commerce moves to next phase after delivery price war changes shopping habits
China's meal-delivery subsidy war may have ebbed but its biggest legacy could be a shift in consumer expectations, as electronics, flowers and even medicine can now be delivered within an hour of ordering.
Meet the South's first Black gay congressman
Rep. Everton Blair will serve just four months in Congress. Still, the South's first Black gay man in the House has plans for his short time there.
9 Sacramento businesses vandalized in a string of burglaries within 24 hours
VCU Health awards cleaning services contract to new vendor, to pay $26M in first year
The contractor transition means at least a temporary layoff of more than 500 employees, though many of them are expected to be rehired by the new vendor.
Soft opening announced for new Henderson sports, entertainment complex
Henderson Sport and Social offers indoor soccer, bowling, and an arcade without requiring families to walk through a smoky casino.
Soft opening announced for new Henderson sports, entertainment complex
Henderson Sport and Social offers indoor soccer, bowling, and an arcade without requiring families to walk through a smoky casino.
Soft opening announced for new Henderson sports, entertainment complex
Henderson Sport and Social offers indoor soccer, bowling, and an arcade without requiring families to walk through a smoky casino.
Soft opening announced for new Henderson sports, entertainment complex
Henderson Sport and Social offers indoor soccer, bowling, and an arcade without requiring families to walk through a smoky casino.
After over 20 years in LA, he moved to Taiwan to care for his aging parents
Dean Chou said he always felt guilty about living so far from his parents. As an only child, he knew there was no one else to step in if they needed help.
Weekly Entertainment Report: Live music and lively arts, Sept. 3-6 » Nashua Ink Link
Music is happening this weekend. Go get some.
Brawl of the Business Owners at GOP CD1 Primary Debate on WMUR
Verbal shots were fired in a battle of the business owners at the Republican Primary WMUR debate for the U.S. House of Representatives First Congressional District on Wednesday night.
Seminoles MBB Schedule Highlighted By SEC Showdowns
Coach Leonard Hamilton’s squad navigates a grueling non-conference slate featuring a fierce rivalry renewal with Florida and high-stakes road tests against powerhouse Tennessee and Houston programs.
Letter to the Editor
The University of Alabama continues to invite political interference into the work of UA. After the passage of House Bill 580 in April, University administration has rolled out voluntary compliance to this bill. It is voluntary because UA was explicitly exempt from this bill. The new policies require redundant and more time-intensive post-tenure reviews. New...
Farm features Charlie Kirk in corn maze. Here’s how the business responded to criticism
Goebel Farms said it chose to honor Kirk because he believed that disagreement should lead to conversation, not violence.
Farm features Charlie Kirk in corn maze. Here’s how the business responded to criticism
Goebel Farms said it chose to honor Kirk because he believed that disagreement should lead to conversation, not violence.
Farm features Charlie Kirk in corn maze. Here’s how the business responded to criticism
Goebel Farms said it chose to honor Kirk because he believed that disagreement should lead to conversation, not violence.
Trump promises to campaign for Republicans and says they have a winning midterm message
President Donald Trump is urging Republican lawmakers to run on his White House record despite his sagging popularity.
City links residents with health, housing and education services at nonprofit fair
The City of Warner Robins and Economic Development Department hosted a successful Community Nonprofit Resource Fair on Wednesday, connecting local residents wit
GOP Senator, 73, Shows Worrying Health Condition She Covered Up
The issue, which Susan Collins revealed in May, was evident in a nearly hour-long interview Wednesday.
Sony and Microsoft say they’re not obligated to pass U.S. tariff refunds to consumers, echoing Nintendo
Back in July, Sony executives told investors that the company expected to receive $508 million in refunds from the U.S. government, after tariffs that the PlayStation-maker paid were ruled mostly in 2025 were found to be illegal. “Most” of the refund would by recouped by Sony’s gaming division, its chief financial officer said. This week, Sony’s lawyers are arguing that the company is not legally obligated to pass those proceeds on to consumers who paid for recently price-hiked PlayStation consoles. That’s in the face of a lawsuit from gamers calling on them to do exactly that. “Paying fair market price for voluntarily purchased consumer goods is not a legally cognizable injury in fact,” the lawyers wrote in a legal motion filed on Monday, as they asked a judge in California’s Northern District to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit over the tariff refunds. Microsoft made a similar argument two weeks ahead of Sony’s lawyers, in a similar lawsuit brought by a gamer in federal court in Washington State. As Microsoft’s legal team put it on August 21, in their request for a dismissal of that lawsuit: “There is nothing unjust about Plaintiff purchasing an Xbox at an advertised price and getting exactly what he paid for—regardless of whatever theory he devised months later about Microsoft’s cost structure.” Both legal fights are set to go on for some time. How things got to this point U.S. tariffs impacting a wide range of imported goods, including game consoles, had kicked off in early 2025. In May 2025, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles, citing “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” They raised them again that September. In August of that year, Sony raised the price of PlayStation 5 consoles, citing “a challenging economic environment.” Sony later told investors that its tariff fees for the fall quarter were nearly $200 million. in February of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2025 tariffs illegal, prompting impacted companies to begin to request refunds. In turn, consumers began suing the likes of Sony and Microsoft to get what they said was their share. The gamers in the Microsoft and Sony lawsuits argue that the 2025 price hikes of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, which added $50 or more to their sticker price, were due to illegal tariffs and should now be returned to consumers. The Sony suit started in May, when a group of gamers sued in federal court in California, saying Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) would be unjustly enriching itself if it did not pass tariff refunds to its PS5 buyers. “Sony is poised to be paid twice for the same unlawful tariff burden: once by its customers (through elevated prices) and once by the U.S. government (through tariff refunds),” the gamers’ lawyers wrote at the time. They called for Sony to partially reimburse anyone who bought a PlayStation in the U.S. since August 1, 2025. The Microsoft suit, filed by gamer Trevor Hastings against the Xbox giant in July, made similar claims. The console makers push back In late July, Nintendo’s lawyers, facing a similar suit accusing them of double-dipping on tariffs and refunds, replied with arguments that previewed Microsoft’s and Sony’s: “Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” they wrote. Sony has buttressed that Nintendo-style argument this week by saying that the gamers have failed to prove that tariffs were the reason for its August 2025 PS5 price hike. They call thatclaim “speculative and illogical.” Other factors, including “inflation, currency fluctuations, component costs, logistics, competitive dynamics, or demand,” could have played a role. (No, the Sony lawyers do not break down the costs and factors that officially triggered the price increases). Microsoft has also argued that there’s no proof in these lawsuits that tariffs drove all or some of the price increase, as it seeks to dismiss the tariff refund suit it’s facing: “Plaintiff provides no specific allegations that would establish any pricing differential attributable to tariffs or suggest any possibility that Microsoft applied then or could recreate now any dollar-for-dollar calculation of tariff-related pricing—any more than it could any other market factor that affects pricing.” To further skewer the gamer side’s argument in its case, Sony’s lawyers have pointed to what might be a surprising defense: yet another PlayStation 5 price hike from this past spring, after the tariffs were ruled illegal. “If the original price increase were attributable to tariffs, SIE [Sony Interactive Entertainment, aka PlayStation] would have had no reason to raise prices again after the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA tariffs.” … “If tariffs were the cause of the price increases, one would expect SIE to lower prices once the tariffs were eliminated—not raise them again. Instead, the timeline confirms that the pricing of PlayStation consoles includes a diverse and dynamic set of input costs.” Judges have not yet ruled on the arguments made by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Last week, Panic, the company behind the small, yellow Playdate handheld said it would be passing its tariff refunds on to consumers. It is the only gaming hardware maker to have made such a pledge. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: A reporter’s second Second Life Wagner James Au, who from 2003-2006 was paid by San Francisco-based tech company Linden Lab to be a full-time journalist embedded in their virtual world Second Life, is returning to the company. This time, he’ll be an editorial advisor and business development specialist, he tells Game File. The new role will involve trying to share the stories of people inhabiting Second Life’s ongoing online world with reporters and by extension the public. Au plans to continue to also chronicle some of that through his long-running blog New World Notes. I’ve known Au since the mid-2000s and featured him in a 2007 article for the Columbia Journalism Review about reporters like him opening up virtual news outlets within Second Life. As I wrote at the time: On April 22, 2003, writing as Hamlet Linden for the New World Notes blog on Second Life’s Web site, Au introduced himself. “For the next few months, Linden Lab has invited me to set aside my journalist cap, and instead, don the digital beanie of their in-house virtual correspondent.” He wasn’t paid to keep it positive. He wrote about builders and eccentrics, but then in August of that year, he reported on a tax revolt against Linden Lab (a complaint about the fees it charges users who build stuff) led by a resident whose avatar was a big cat. Second Life has always been less of a video game and more of a virtual world where people can live, hang out, make art, sell virtual items and flirt. Back in 2007, Au described touring it as “sort of like underwater lucid dreaming.” For the past two decades, Au has maintained New World Notes as an independent publication. But he said he’s been drawn back to Second Life and Linden Lab as a place to directly work. The virtual world has around 650,000 monthly active users, he said, “which is actually about what it was during the hype wave.” Au says he’s still finding rich stories in Second Life, the kind that keep him interested 20 years into the beat: “Over the last few months for instance, I wrote about an SL creator in Venezuela whose apartment was destroyed by the earthquakes, so the global SL community rallied to get him back on his feet,” he told me. “Then there’s the woman from a Middle Eastern country who explored her lesbian sexuality in SL, then earned enough from her virtual jewelry to escape her abusive family situation and country.” Au wants to beckon more reporters to give Second Life another look. He argues that it is often ahead of internet trends, noting, for example, an early backlash in the community against AI-made art. Now the platform is drawing curiosity from more of the user-generated content community who’ve grown up with the likes of Roblox, according to Au. “Second Life was too early during its hype wave in 2005-2010, but it now feels right for a new wave of interest,” he told me.
As Midterms Loom, Democrats Feud Over Defections
The fight has highlighted party divisions and raised questions about how Democrats will run the House should they win the majority.
WHO validates Timor-Leste’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem
WHO has validated Timor-Leste as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. With this validation, trachoma has been eliminated as a public health problem throughout the WHO’s South-East Asia Region.
Google Won't Have To Break Up Its Advertising Business, Federal Judge Rules
Google will not have to break up its advertising operations, a federal judge has ruled, though it will have to alter its business practices.
Presented with bleak polling, the White House moves to make the midterms about Trump
Despite economic headwinds and an unpopular war, Donald Trump’s allies believe that Republicans will win in November if only they can get the president’s base to turn out.
Should the Houston Rockets Trade Kevin Durant to... the Celtics?
The Houston Rockets could find a potential trade partner in the Boston Celtics for a blockbuster Kevin Durant deal.
Trump administration threatens to cut off agencies’ ties to Smithsonian
Echoing White House attacks, an Interior Department letter threatened the institution “under current leadership” with loss of support for sourcing artifacts and more.
Former Lions, Broncos CB Alphonso Smith Jr. dead at 40
Former NFL defensive back Alphonso Smith Jr. died on Wednesday at a housing community in Florida.
Aaron Rodgers Offers His Own Thoughts on Steelers’ QB Room
For weeks leading up to Mike McCarthy’s decision, everyone, from fans to media, weighed in on the Steelers‘ quarterback room. The only person who stayed quiet on how many quarterbacks should be on the roster and the order of the depth chart was the leading the position, Aaron Rodgers. That changed on Wednesday when the […] The post Aaron Rodgers Offers His Own Thoughts on Steelers’ QB Room appeared first on HEAVY.
My Wife and I Started a Business to Elevate Aperitivo Hour in the U.S. It’s Averaging $8,000 to $10,000 a Month.
Joe Fiorenzo and Sheela Prakash spun their love of Italian culture into a CPG brand.
Why health equity is now a business imperative in cardiology
For health systems under value-based care payment initiatives, there a direct financial incentive to invest in programs that improve access and outcomes among underserved populations. Cardiologist Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, shared her thoughts on this important topic.
After RFK visit, board members seek new policy to keep politics out of schools
Board members look to update rules about what level of politicking should be allowed in schools.
House GOP lawmakers explore increased public health reporting for tick-borne diseases
The commonwealth had more than 16,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in 2024, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
USTR's Greer huddles with House Republicans amid Trump trade spats
Trump's plan to lower tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of imported beef caused an uproar among cattle ranchers.
House Democrats block constitutional amendment on Supreme Court size
The Republican-led resolution, which requires two-thirds support in the House and Senate, comes in response to increasing openness among Democrats to expand the court.
Health insurance costs projected to spike next year by most in two decades
Employers predict an average 8.2% increase in the cost of their insurance plans. Workers will shoulder some of the cost.
Fort Bragg Veteran celebrates expansion of high-end experiential entertainment brand
Photo provided by EscapologyAfter 15 years as an Army officer at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville resident Dan Cooke transitioned to business ownership to bring high-end experiential entertainment to North Carolina, applying strict military operational systems to scale his footprint across the state.Cooke got his start in the Army’s Boots to Business program.“Boots to Business was instrumental in preparing me to start a company. The program taught me how to develop a business plan, conduct market and financial analysis and critically evaluate whether a business concept was actually viable,” shared Cooke. “What made the program particularly valuable was that the instructors and mentors had real-world business experience…At the end of the course, I had to present and defend that plan. From there, they directed me to SCORE, where mentors helped me further refine the plan. I eventually presented it to a bank, which was impressed with the level of preparation, and I secured the financing necessary to build the business.”As Cooke neared the end of his military career, he began to wonder what would come next. Through his faith and some valuable mentors, he found the right avenue for his entrepreneurial interests.“While working on my instrument pilot rating, my flight instructor happened to tell me about escape rooms and the economics behind building them. He thought they could make for an interesting business. I took the analytical skills I had developed in the military, along with what I learned through Boots to Business, and began comparing the escape-room model against other opportunities I was considering,” explained Cooke. Cooke opened his first Escapology location in Fayetteville in 2019.“My approach was to start small and prove the model. Fayetteville made sense because I was already there, understood the market and could minimize my initial risk. It also became clear very quickly that I needed a partner that could provide the creative design, branding and industry knowledge that I did not have. After researching a number of options, Escapology became that partner,” added Cooke.Following the success of his initial venue in Fayetteville and a venue in Charlotte that opened in 2023, Cooke recently expanded into Raleigh with his third Escapology venue at Crabtree Valley Mall.His North Carolina footprint now includes:Fayetteville: A 5-room venue launched right after his Army transition in 2019.Charlotte: A 10-room venue opened in 2023, doubling his original operational footprint.Raleigh (Crabtree Valley Mall): A 6-room venue opened in May 2026, with plans to expand to 10 full rooms.Beyond his venues, Cooke expanded his local footprint by launching Jade Solutions in Aberdeen, N.C., an OEM manufacturing business that now builds prop and technical solutions for Escapology venues systemwide.Cooke shared that his long-term goal is to continue expanding Escapology in a healthy and sustainable way while enjoying the journey. “I actually did not start an entertainment business because I personally loved escape rooms. I started a business because I love the game of business itself. Growing up, I loved military simulation games and business tycoon games. I eventually had the opportunity to experience the first of those in the real world — I went to war, led troops and played my part in the military. Today, I would much rather apply that same drive to the real-world game of building businesses.I don't play business computer games anymore. I get to wake up and do it for real every day,” shared Cooke.
Kiggans, Underwood Recognize September 1st-8th as National Clinical Nurse Specialist Week
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced a resolution to recognize the first...
Trump $1 commemorative coins out of stock hours after going on sale
New $1 commemorative coins featuring President Donald Trump appeared to be out of stock Wednesday afternoon, hours after they went on sale from the US Mint at noon.
SM Entertainment and Tencent Music establish Beijing joint venture STE, with Super Junior-M’s Zhoumi as CEO
STE will develop and manage artists for the Greater China market, and says it’s preparing a new Chinese idol group for a debut within two to three years…
Wednesday, September 2nd: Texas Roadhouse, Humane Society of Eastern Carolina, Entertainment Report, Be Our Guest: Main & Mill Oyster Bar & Tavern
Eastern Lifestyle
Republicans fail to ease one of Trump's greatest fears as Supreme Court measure collapses
House Democrats blocked a constitutional amendment to cap Supreme Court justices at nine after President Donald Trump warned of future court packing.
Inside Camelback Productions’ Plans for a New 1,400-Acre, AI-Powered Production and Entertainment Complex
Anita Verma-Lallian, founder of Camelback Productions, doesn’t see the future of film production in Los Angeles. Instead, in her vision, it is on a complex one hour’s drive west of Phoenix, complete w...
Trump Administration Launches Blitz to Find Elusive Voter Fraud Ahead of Midterms
The practice is exceedingly rare, but President Trump has fixated on rooting it out this year, claiming without evidence that tens of thousands of noncitizens are registered to vote.
House committee subpoenas Oracle’s Ellison about costly veterans health records project
Lawmakers in both parties are fed up with the tech firm’s handling of the decadelong effort to update VA medical files.
These Russian Mathematicians Taught AI Models How to Talk to Each Other Without Using Words
A startup called Mostik has a wild new approach to combining the capabilities of AI models.
Uber to cut thousands of jobs in sweeping restructuring effort
The ride-hailing giant's CEO said Uber is cutting management layers, consolidating teams and requiring most remote workers to relocate to key office hubs.
Why Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Stock Is Trading Up Today
What Happened? Shares of global online betting powerhouse Flutter Entertainment (NASDAQ:FLUT) jumped 4.1% in the afternoon session after Wolfe Research analy...
As Republicans plan to gather in Bush’s backyard, his influence is largely absent from the party
Next week's Republican convention in Dallas takes place in the same city that helped give rise to the Bush political dynasty. But George W. Bush himself — and many policies he pushed 30 years ago — are largely missing from today's GOP, political scientists say.
Raiders officially name Kirk Cousins their starting quarterback
Cousins will officially begin the season as Las Vegas' QB1 over rookie Fernando Mendoza.
Yankees' Aaron Boone Drops Major Update On Aaron Judge's Return
The New York Yankees have been without Aaron Judge for most of the season, but he is close to returning
Cornell science educator David Kornreich, Ph.D. ’01, dies at 52
David Kornreich, Ph.D. ’01, who taught physics and astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences, died Aug. 30 in a plane crash near Ithaca. Kornreich, a native of Houston, Texas, was 52.
Penrod Arts Fair and Evening with Penrod bring art, entertainment to Indianapolis
The Penrod Arts Fair is scheduled to return to the Newfields gardens on September 12, featuring over 1,000 artists and supporting arts organizations throughout central Indiana.