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Major Portland companies collaborate to eliminate single-use cups
Three Portland companies, McMenamins, Bold Reuse, and Straightaway Cocktails, have launched a reusable cup program at Edgefield Concerts, which is predicted to eliminate 400,000 single-use cups acr…
Week in Portland women’s sports (5/29)
Week in Portland women’s sports (5/29)
Weekly wrap up of Portland women's sports (5/29)
Weekly wrap up of Portland women's sports (5/29)
Eye on Northwest Politics: May 31, 2026
Reporting Portland and Vancouver area breaking news and weather stories to make Oregon and Southwest Washington a better place to live
Downtown Portland businesses see signs of revival after years of struggle
Some downtown Portland business owners say safety patrols and outreach efforts are helping restore confidence and revive the city’s core.
RAJ Sports, Nike to host The Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit during Portland’s Epicenter Week
RAJ Spots and Nike announced Thursday the return of Epicenter Week, a five-day series of events centered on women’s sports that will take place Aug. 19-23 in Portland and Beaverton.
The Oregon Water Science Center receives Portland State University’s 2026 Public Impact Partner Award
Learn more about the award and the USGS-Portland State Partnership.
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for 3% funding target
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for better conditions
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Heartland Sports scores from Wednesday 5/27
Here are Heartland sports scores from Wednesday 5/27.
Iran’s forever war: Deal or no deal, Iran’s challenge to America will outlast Trump
Shortly after I landed in Baghdad for the first time in January 2004, US intelligence services intercepted a letter from Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s deputy, to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. The letter discussed the use of ruthless violence to establish an Islamic caliphate— first inside Iraq and ultimately across the broader Middle East.
Mr K winner sipped deeply with community; now it’s savoring Small Business of the Year accolades
Built at the crossroads of coffee and cultural placemaking, the KC Chamber’s just-announced Small Business of the Year has brewed more than a thriving family business — it’s a story steeped in creating space for the region’s Latin and Indigenous communities alongside incoming FIFA World Cup visitors.
Inside the Collapse of Providence Health Plan
It is impossible to know if CEO Don Antonucci could have done anything to avert the Portland company’s looming demise. But a dozen-plus current and ex-employees feel there is more to the story than Providence management let on.
Where science meets the sand: Sullivan’s Island students help protect 1st sea turtle nest
Sea turtle nesting season is officially underway in South Carolina, and students at Sullivan’s Island Elementary School are already stepping up to help protect Sullivan’s Island’s first sea turtle nest of the 2026 season.
Portland Old Town headquarters sells for lowest price ever as office fire sales continue
A prominent Portland social services nonprofit bought the building for a song, records show.
Free ‘Grow Local’ workshop series for Heartland small business owners set for May 29
The four sessions will be at the Union County Extension Center in Anna. Organizers say each one is an hour long and beginner-friendly.
Maine's transgender sports initiative halted by invalid signatures
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine initiative intended to limit transgender students' ability to participate in sports has been removed from the ballot because of invalid signatures, the secretary of state ruled Tuesday.
Apple releases first iOS 26.6 beta for iPhone
Apple has released the first iOS 26.6 beta for developers. iOS 26.6 beta 1 arrives shortly after the official release...
UIC and UI Health: Reshaping the future of telesurgery
Researchers at UIC and UI Health are challenging accepted beliefs […]
Portland clinic helps Asian immigrants navigate life and mental health amid immigration enforcement fears
Founded in 1983, the Asian Health and Service Center in Southeast Portland provides mental health counseling and other support services, as providers say immigration crackdowns have heightened fear and worsened mental health challenges among some immigrant patients.
Garry Small is getting out of the Saab business
Garry Small, 86, is selling his eponymous Saab dealership and service center in Portland after 40 years in business. He wants to focus on racing.
Bernie Sanders, Graham Platner rally for 'political revolution' in Maine
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and Sen. Bernie Sanders rally supporters in Portland, Maine. Both leaders call for a 'political revolution,' criticizing the economic and campaign finance systems as corrupt.
Business listings: See 26 new businesses in Central NY (May 26, 2026)
See a list of business filings in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, and Onondaga counties.
Preview: Magnolia Festival in Durant
The Magnolia Festival of Oklahoma returns to the Choctaw Event Center in Durant for its 28th year, featuring a carnival, live music, food trucks, turtle races, and over 150 vendors with free admission for all attendees.
'Persona 4 Revival BGM' Registered on NexTone Music Copyright Database
An new entry has appeared on a music copyright management database for 'Persona 4 Revival' BGM implying that it may shortly feature in a trailer
Heartland Tournament Sports scores from Monday 5/25
Here are Heartland Tournament Sports scores from Monday, May 25.
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner embraces democratic socialism at Bernie Sanders rally in Portland
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner embraces democratic socialism at a Bernie Sanders rally, condemning U.S. support for Israel and Sen. Collins.
Platner, Sanders, Jackson join forces again for Memorial Day rally
Almost nine months after U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont came to Maine to announce his support for gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson and U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner — who at the time was a little known oyster farmer — the three rallied in Portland again on Monday to talk about their plans to make […]
BARTLETT: In U.S. Politics, New Hampshire Is Still the Real Test
New Hampshire - BARTLETT: In U.S. Politics, New Hampshire Is Still the Real Test - NH Journal - Opinion
Shirtless man caught on camera stealing mail from business in Fort Myers shopping plaza
A shirtless man was caught on camera stealing mail from a business on US-41 at Ricardo Avenue. Fort Myers police are looking for the suspect
Myrtle Beach dedicates Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Warbird Park
Over a thousand people gathered to celebrate the opening of the veterans memorial at Warbird, which sits very close to where the front gate of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was located.
Cubs Minor League Wrap: Iowa blasts Memphis, 18-4
Iowa and South Bend win. Myrtle Beach is slumping badly.
Gasperini before Verona kick-off: “We need one last step.”
The match between Hellas Verona and Roma, the thirty-eighth and final matchday of Serie A, kicks off at 8:45 PM at the Bentegodi Stadium. Shortly before kickoff, Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to reporter...
Lazio Make Contact With Gattuso Who’s on Three-Man Shortlist
Lazio have reportedly opened a dialogue with Gennaro Gattuso, who is unattached after leaving the Italian national team.Maurizio Sarri Set to Leave LazioAfter Saturday’s final-day win over Pisa, Mau...
‘Give it some time:’ Inside Tom Dundon’s NHL success amid Trail Blazer uncertainty
In Portland, the cost-conscious Dundon's arrival has been a shock to the system. In Raleigh, some say his NHL ownership has been a shock to the heart.
'We've weathered storms before' | Family business hopes to reopen shortly after tornado damage
'We've weathered storms before' | Family business hopes to reopen shortly after tornado damage
A spokesperson for an almost 120-year-old family business said that it plans to reopen on Tuesday despite being severely damaged by an EF-0 tornado that touched down in Claiborne County on Friday even...
Trump says Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’ as 84-day war nears possible end
President Donald Trump announced progress toward a deal with Iran after talks with regional leaders, saying final details will be announced shortly.
Heartland Sports on The Breakfast Show 5/23
Heartland Sports on The Breakfast Show 5/23
Bond breakout? Big effects of bad data. Immigration and thermostatic politics & dad-chat is coming for dad-books.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Anna Airy, A Shell Forge at a National Projectile Factory, Hackney Marshes, London, 1918 Bond breakout - John Authers Across the developed markets, bond markets are staging a slow-motion car wreck. Looking at the drastic moves in the US, Japan, the UK and France, Barclays’ Ajay Rajadhyaksha commented: “Last week, long bonds broke. Not in one country. In all of them. Simultaneously. Four countries. Four different political systems. Four different central banks. But the same trade — “get me out of duration!”” Each country has its own contributing political problems, but the uniformity of the shift out of long-term bonds with high duration makes clear that something broader is afoot. For Rajadhyaksha, it is “simple and uncomfortable.” The developed world “has too much debt, too little fiscal discipline, and no political appetite for fixing either.” If there’s a trigger, it has been the Iran war and the resulting shock to oil supply. Source: Bloomberg G7 countries are now borrowing at rates that were enjoyed by EM in the early 2020s For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Trade between China and Russia has grown in recent years For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Big effects of bad data A decade ago nearly nine in ten Americans, when approached, agreed to fill out the Current Population Survey, which is administered to about 60,000 households each month and asks about, among other things, employment. Fewer than seven in ten do so now (see chart 1). For the Consumer Expenditure Survey, which tries to capture 3,700 households monthly, the response rate is down from 68% to 40%. … When the information becomes less reliable, investment decisions get more difficult to make. Some may be delayed, creating a potential drag on the economy. A new working paper by Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University, Erica Groshen, former head of the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) now at Cornell University, and Duncan Hobbs and Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank, hazards an estimate. Preserving trust in “the integrity and quality of official statistics”, the authors claim, generates economic benefits of about $25 for every $1 spent on the BLS, the agency with an annual budget of $700m that is responsible for many of these data. To arrive at their conclusion the quartet analysed an ignoble episode in the BLS’s recent history. On August 1st 2025 Donald Trump sacked Erika McEntarfer, appointed as the agency’s commissioner by his predecessor, Joe Biden. The president alleged, without evidence, that the BLS’s steep downward revision to recent jobs numbers had been “RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad”. In fact, it was the wanton dismissal that looked bad in the eyes of many observers. In the following seven days there was a 50% leap, relative to the week before, in the average value of the index of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU), which tracks the number of articles mentioning such uncertainty that are published daily in American newspapers. This was a discernible jump even when compared to the chaos caused by Mr Trump’s trade war in April 2025 and his real one in Iran in the past two months (see chart 2). Based on Mr Bloom’s earlier study with other colleagues of the EPU’s impact on business investment, industrial production and employment, the authors estimate that the jump reduced American GDP by over $100bn (0.3%) and non-farm payrolls by 168,000 (0.1%). Source: The Economist Immigration and thermostatic politics (Sarah O’Connor in the FT) A strange thing happened a year and a half ago. No sooner had Americans elected Donald Trump as president on an explicitly anti-immigration platform than US public opinion began to swing much more favourably towards immigration. … to political scientists who study “thermostatic” politics, this development is no surprise at all. Public opinion often moves against the prevailing party, especially if they are perceived to have gone “too far” in one direction. The phenomenon was first explored in the 1990s with reference to fiscal policy, but in recent years it has been particularly evident in the realm of immigration policy. While these swings in opinion polls can make it seem as if people don’t know their own minds, they can be a useful democratic check on governments by sending bright flashing warning lights when policies stray too far from the public’s comfort zone. The problem comes when politicians misinterpret those signals. When people tell pollsters they want less immigration, or think it is bad for the country overall (or the converse), they are often expressing an opinion about how things appear to be going in that moment relative to their preferences, rather than a deep shift in their underlying views. According to Alexander Kustov, a political scientist, most Americans’ views are quite stable and moderate: they support immigration that is controlled and in the national interest, and oppose flows that are disorderly or under-enforced. In the US, he argues the Trump administration over-interpreted dissatisfaction with high immigration under Joe Biden, and implemented policies that went too far for many voters. “People don’t necessarily change their idea about their ideal immigration policy, but they can react to what the government is currently doing,” he told me. “A lot of people are not happy with what the Trump administration are doing — right now we’re not talking about border enforcement, we’re talking about people not just getting harassed, but killed.” But similarly, he added, pro-immigration advocates would be making a mistake to interpret the recent, more favourable swing towards immigration as a deep-seated ideological shift in attitudes. The recent history of UK immigration policy offers another cautionary tale. After the 2016 Brexit referendum, public concern about immigration fell. This was partly because net migration statistics declined, but also because people felt a sense of catharsis and control, says Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a think-tank. By 2019, the public ranked immigration as only the ninth biggest issue of concern, according to Ipsos polling. But when the Conservative government liberalised visa routes for students and care workers between 2019 and 2022, that helped net migration to surge. And so, too, did public concern. Today’s Labour government has implemented another sharply restrictive turn in immigration policy. As Kustov and researcher Caitlyn Yates argue, thermostatic public opinion should be a useful check on politicians. Instead it seems to have helped to magnify the pendulum swing in the UK. The government over-interprets and overreacts to a change in public opinion, which reacts in turn, prompting a sudden swing the other way. Source: Financial Times 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 $50. 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 Anna Airy, Shop for Machining 15-Inch Shells: Singer Manufacturing Company, Clydebank, Glasgow, 1918 Racing for a vaccine … we have been here before! The deadly Ebola outbreak in two African countries driven by a virus species with no vaccine has triggered an urgent search for a potential jab, in a test of troubled global efforts to avert threats posed by emerging diseases. A World Health Organization advisory group is due to would meet on Tuesday to recommend candidate jabs to prioritise for clinical trials, the global health body said. It will assess data including an analysis by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), which was set up after failures in the international response to a previous Ebola crisis. The latest Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has infected hundreds of people and killed more than 80, health authorities say. Cepi’s reaction will be a crucial indicator of its progress towards its wider goal of producing vaccines for pandemic threats in just 100 days, despite steep cuts to international health funding. “If there was ever a time that we could show the world why Cepi is needed and show the world why the 100-day mission is needed, it’s now,” Nicole Lurie, the organisation’s executive director for preparedness and response, told the FT. “We’re happy to accept that responsibility, but obviously we need help from partners — particularly financial help in the long run.” DR Congo and Uganda would make the final decision on whether to press ahead with any vaccine candidates endorsed for clinical trials by the WHO experts, the global health body said. “Other ethical and community acceptability issues will be considered,” said the WHO, which declared the latest outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. “This will be important to make sure that the trial, if it happens, will be adequately communicated to the population.” Lurie said Cepi had provided information from a survey of research teams and companies working on drugs that might be effective against the Bundibugyo virus behind the outbreak. The organisation hoped soon to announce partners in the quest for a jab, she added, although she declined to give a timescale for when one might be developed. Cepi’s Nicole Laurie said global health bodies were ‘getting some live-fire drills’ with hantavirus and the latest Ebola outbreak. The hunt for a vaccine should be helped by scientific advances including the use of artificial intelligence to find drugs active against viruses, Lurie said. Existing jabs against the Zaire Ebola virus responsible for many previous outbreaks might provide a basis for tackling the Bundibugyo species, she added. “We’ll see how far and how fast we can get,” Lurie said, adding that Cepi had done preliminary work recently on a possible jab for the rat-borne hantavirus responsible for a recent fatal outbreak on a cruise ship. “Both with hantavirus and now with Ebola, [we] are getting some live-fire drills.” Source: Michael Peel in the Financial Times Dad-chat is coming for dad-books. (By Pamela Paul and Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg in the WSJ) They were the go-to gifts for Father’s Day: a book about some little-known chapter of World War II, the sweeping narrative of a shipwreck, perhaps the latest presidential biography. These days, dad books are a dying breed. Nonfiction book sales have been in decline for the past four years, and are now the most challenged segment of the print book market. Publishers say certain types of books still fare well—including celebrity memoirs and religious titles. But in recent years, print sales in such categories as biography, current affairs and business and economics—what publishers refer to as “serious nonfiction” and which tend to resonate especially with men—have fallen considerably. Sales of nonfiction print titles were down nearly 8% through May 9 this year, and sales of books about politics and current affairs were down 19%, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. Publishing has long been subject to cyclical changes, with trends in format and genre taking over bookshelves in grand sweeps. (Remember the adult coloring-book craze? Or the stratospheric rise of romantasy?) But many in publishing believe the decline in serious nonfiction is more existential. “The trend couldn’t be clearer,” said Jonathan Karp, the former chief executive of Simon & Schuster and publisher of the new Simon Six imprint. “This is a sea change and people should wake up and realize we’re living in a new world.” One culprit for the shift: a new media diet for fans of more serious nonfiction. … Sixty-two percent of men and 54% of women consumed a podcast in the prior month, according to a recent survey by Edison Research at SSRS, up from 46% and 39%, respectively, in 2023. “When we have internal meetings to talk about this problem, it always comes around to podcasts,” said Jonathan Burnham, president and publisher of the Harper Group at HarperCollins Publishers. “The man who wants to read American history is now tuning into one of the many good podcasts about history that lends the quiet attention to a serious subject he’s looking for. It makes the idea of sitting down with a 700-page Ron Chernow book less appealing. You’ve scratched that itch.” Source: Wall Street Journal Remarkable report by Novara from the nationalist rally in London in mid May. Anna Airy, Leopard Moth and Plums, 1915 If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
Budget conference: House agrees to Senate cost-of-living adjustments for retired ‘special risk’ employees
'The water is boiling; we’ll put the vegetables in shortly.'
Scientists discover a shortcut to the moon that NASA missed
Getting to the moon is partly a fuel problem. Plotting the most efficient path between two points in space saves propellant, and every kilogram of propellant conserved is money in the bank. Even tiny ...
Update: What We’re Watching, May 22, 2026
This update covers the latest federal health policy news and its potential impact on Kansas.
Heartland Food Products Group to Acquire Whole Earth Brands' Americas Business
/PRNewswire/ -- Heartland Food Products Group, owner and manufacturer of the Splenda® Brand, SlimFast®, and Java House®, today announced it has entered into a...
Sports Bra eyes national expansion with community funding
Fans can buy equity as the Portland bar plans rapid expansion.
Out-of-the-box business: How Ling Vong’s food truck got more than she bargained for with Labubus
Ling Vong’s decision to sell Labubus alongside her Vietnamese street food wasn’t random, the owner of Dragon Wagon KC and KC Monsters shared. It was a strategy rooted in serving culture, creating experiences, and building community, she said.
EU’s Carbon Border Levy Is Growing Source of Tension for Ukraine
In the fourth year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine’s industrial heartland, Kyiv faces another challenge—this time from a partner: the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism.
Heartland tournament sports scores from Thursday, 5/21
Here are Heartland Tournament final sports scores from Thursday 5/21.
Facebook post shows political ‘bat signal’ projection on Portland tunnels that transportation official says i
The name of a candidate for Washington County chair was projected on what appears to be the Vista Ridge tunnels without a permit, ODOT confirmed, in what the candidate called a 'bat signal.'
Gerald Talbot remembered as Maine champion for civil rights
Portland Mayor Mark Dion said Talbot made an immeasurable impact on his life over the years.
Portland businesses hit hard by tariffs await refunds months after Supreme Court ruling
In February, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed by President Trump under a 50-year-old statute. We hear from two CEOs in Portland about the impact the tariffs have had on their small businesses and the refunds they have applied for and are hoping to get.
WATCH: Trump says Raúl Castro indictment is 'a very important moment' for Cubans
The comments came shortly after federal prosecutors announced charges against Raúl Castro in the 1996 downing of civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles as the Trump administration escalated pressure on the island's socialist government.
Providence Health Plan to end coverage, affecting hundreds of thousands of Oregon patients
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Providence Health announced Wednesday they will be leaving the insurance business and starting to phase out coverage at the end of the year. The company says they will…
Portland-Based Providence Health Plan To Stop Offering Most Insurance Plans At End of Year
The Providence Health Plan said Wednesday that it would stop offering most of its insurance products by the year’s end, heralding the near-complete dissolution of a longtime stalwart of Oregon’s private health insurance marketplace.
Nate Nickerson, force behind southern Maine public health programs, dies at 69
Nickerson influenced several programs for homeless Portland residents and led an organization for healthcare in Haiti. Friends and former colleagues say they will most remember his passion and humility.
Platner leads Collins in new poll of Maine Senate race
When broken down by congressional district, Collins leads Platner in the 2nd District 45% to 41%, while in the 1st District, Platner leads Collins 56% to 36%, the poll shows.
Trail Blazers lay off large number of business-side employees
The Portland Trail Blazers have laid off a significant number of business-side employees as part of a reorganization under new owner Tom Dundon.
Trail Blazers lay off large number of business-side employees
The Portland Trail Blazers have laid off a significant number of business-side employees as part of a reorganization under new owner Tom Dundon.
Clyde Best documentary honors a pioneer who helped shape the sport in Portland and abroad
As the soccer world looks ahead to the FIFA World Cup, Portland fans will get a chance to celebrate one of the most influential figures in Timbers' history with
Mariners make everyone sad, lose to White Sox 2-1
A sad night at the ballpark despite the presence of hundreds of shirtless screaming fans
Portland Trail Blazers lay off employees in restructuring of business office
The staff cuts are the first major change in the organization since Tom Dundon officially took over as owner earlier this year.
Trail Blazers lay off dozens of staff members on business side of team
At least three dozen staff members with the Portland Trail Blazers were laid off on Tuesday morning, our news partners at Willamette Week report.The layoffs wer
No height limit for entrepreneurship: Kansas nonprofit boosts children’s business literacy
“We look at every child as a leader right now,” said Leah Ellis, founder of The Society of Child Entrepreneurs, “and ask them what they want to see happening in their community today, rather than kicking the can down the road until they’re older or taller.”
Data center politics and Kirk Bangstad’s attention-seeking run for governor (with Emily Mills!)
Dan Shafer is a journalist from Milwaukee who writes and publishes The Recombobulation Area. In 2024, he and the publication joined Civic Media, where he is currently a Contributing Editor. He’s written for The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Heartland Signal, Belt Magazine, WisPolitics, and Milwaukee Record. He previously worked at Seattle Magazine, Seattle […]
Business listings: See 34 new businesses in Central NY
See a list of business filings in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, and Onondaga counties.
W.H.O. Chief Is ‘Deeply Concerned’ By Speed and Scale of Ebola Outbreak As Cases Rise
The warning came shortly after Congo officials reported more than 130 suspected deaths and 513 cases, a sharp rise since the outbreak was first reported over the weekend.
Portland groundbreaking pub The Sports Bra seeks to raise $1.2 million in uncommon crowdfunding model
Investors can commit as little as $250 for a stake in the bar that helped cement Portland’s reputation as a women’s hub.
Cortland Athletics wins third straight SUNYAC Commissioner's Cup for all-sports excellence
It's the the 20th time overall that Red Dragons student-athletes have claimed the trophy since the competition began in the 1996-97 season.
Today’s Papers – Juve out, Inter taunt Milan
La Gazzetta dello SportSinner King in RomeA phenomenon, Azzurri triumph after 50 yearsThe GiantCorriere dello SportLucio is sixthJuve outBoos at the Stadium: Fiorentina coup (0-2)What a collapse, kick...
'Tarps off' trend fires up Busch Stadium during Cardinals' winning streak: 'I'll sign up for that any day'
The Cardinals are 2-0 with the Stephen F. Austin club baseball team show goes shirtless in right field.
Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland
Test your knowledge of entertainment with this quiz on celebrities, trends and headline-making moments. Featured this week: mystery collaborations, red carpet close calls, celebrity confrontations and...
Science with Steve: Climate change & allergies
Reporting Portland and Vancouver area breaking news and weather stories to make Oregon and Southwest Washington a better place to live
Horse dies after race on Black-Eyed Susan Day ahead of Preakness Stakes
Hit Zero collapsed shortly after his first-ever race on Friday.
Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland
Test your knowledge of entertainment with this quiz on celebrities, trends and headline-making moments. Featured this week: mystery collaborations, red carpet close calls, celebrity confrontations and a dream cave wedding.
Gallery: Murrells Inlet bars filled with bikers for 2026 spring bike rally
Bikers and many interested onlookers visited Murrells Inlet on Thursday, May 14, 2026 for Myrtle Beach Bike Week spring rally festivities.
Science Pub: Fifty Years of Paleontology at John Day
With Nicholas Famoso, PhD, Paleontology Program Manager and Museum Curator at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, and Colin Deverell, Acting Northwest Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association. Bringing one of Oregon’s great national parks to you, learn about the incredible paleontological history preserved and studied at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument from its chief paleontologist, Nick Famoso, as the park celebrates its 50th anniversary. In addition, learn from the National Parks Conservation Association about efforts to protect the greater John Day landscape so its remarkable history and natural wonders are preserved for generations to come. Science Pubs are a casual lecture series located in fun venues across the region, recommended for ages 10 and over.
Portland kayak business finds new home after Custom House Wharf fire
Owner Harley Lewin lost 10 kayaks, as well as custom gear and personal treasures, when Nanuq Kayaks burned.
Shirley Jones Named Sky Entertainment Commissioning Chief In Rejig
Shirley Jones has been named Head of Entertainment Commissioning at the 'SNL UK' network Sky in a rejig partly triggered by the exit of Barbara Lee.
Portland’s proposed arts tax makeover prompts legal threat by business lobby
The Portland Metro Chamber claims the City Council lacks legal authority to raise the tax from $35 to $50 without voter approval, despite city attorney's opinion to the contrary.
Vice President Vance to highlight anti-fraud efforts
In December, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services referred one Portland area provider to the attorney general’s office for investigation after finding “a credible allegation of fraud.”
HHS Announces Heartland Forward MOU to Advance Maternal Health
HHS Announces Heartland Forward MOU to Advance Maternal Health
Leverkusen next German club to be linked with Rohl
Rangers' Danny Rohl is among several names on Bayer Leverkusen's shortlist for a new head coach, but Bild suggests that Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner is the top choice and Girona's Michel is also a candidate. Danny Rohl is not at risk of being sacked by Rangers and is unlikely to leave for Wolfsburg considering their relegation from the Bundesliga, but Union Berlin, in particular, and Bayer Leverkusen could be more attractive propositions amid Europe-wide interest in the 37-year-old.
Portland Fire Secure First Franchise Win With Dramatic Buzzer-Beater
Portland Fire have officially entered the WNBA win column. See how the expansion team pulled off a shocking last-second upset against New York Liberty.
Portland health officials present new infectious disease communications policy
Portland health officials talked Tuesday night about what would happen if an infected cruise ship came to the city.
Patriots content team shortlisted for three Hashtag Sports Awards
The New England Patriots content team has been shortlisted for three Hashtag Sports Awards for videos produced during the 2025 season. Fan voting is live now.
Student-staffed Portland clinic offers free law, business services
The clinic, a partnership between the University of Maine School of Law and the University of Maine Graduate School of Business, is based in downtown Portland.
Teen builds ‘Bionic Underwater Robotic Turtle’ to detect ecological threats
High schooler Evan Budz's award-winning invention can identify coral bleaching, invasive species, and microplastics without disturbing marine ecosystems.
LG webOS Transforms Home Entertainment with Effortless Content Discovery and Seamless Viewing Experience
The platform puts the user at the centre, creating a simple and intuitive path to great content LG Electronics' webOS serves as a central entertainment hub,...
Sports-mad Portland savors its second chance to root for women’s basketball
It’s been nearly a quarter of a century since the city had a WNBA team, and fans showed their support by turning out in record numbers.
MBPD: Driver arrested after crashing into cars, causing business damage
A person was taken into custody after a police chase in Myrtle Beach.
In Focus Maine: The state budget
Mayor Mark Dion highlights what makes Portland unique, emphasizing its vibrant waterfront, walkability, and strong sense of community
In Focus Maine: Mayor Dion discusses future development plans in Portland
The mayor notes that more than 1,000 new housing units have already been approved
In Focus Maine: Mayor Mark Dion describes affordable housing
Mayor Mark Dion describes affordable housing as a major challenge in Portland