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We asked Madison: How much money do you make?
Over a dozen states have pay transparency laws, including Illinois, Minnesota, New York and Washington. While no such laws exist in Wisconsin, money is still at the top of mind
Siena poll: Hochul's lead over Blakeman narrows as voters weigh issues
Likely voters were also asked about statewide races for attorney general and state comptroller.
Hospitals Say They Found a Tool To Help Reduce Childbirth Risks: Wristbands
North Carolina and other states have embraced “I Gave Birth” wristbands as a way to encourage women to seek help when they have postpartum complications. They’re gaining steam as the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid threaten postpartum care.
Sony Announces Phantom Blade Zero State of Play and Everyone Knows How the Chat Is Going to Go
Promising looking action game Phantom Blade Zero is getting its very own State of Play, but if the reaction to Sony’s announcement is any indication, the chat is going to be overrun with angry comments about Sony’s decision to kill PlayStation discs.
Four takeaways from Tuesday's primaries in six states
Voters in half a dozen states went to the polls Tuesday, and results highlight the ongoing conflicts within both parties ahead of the November midterms.
State of Play for Phantom Blade Zero Announced for Next Week, 11-Minute Trailer Revealed
A $60 PS5 game with pre-orders live now
Skillfully Adding AI To The HHS Pledge On Advancing Best Practices For National Mental Health Care
HHS released a pledge to advance national mental healthcare. I add AI to the six stated principles, since AI will be integral to this. An AI Insider analysis and scoop.
Hunting is a privilege, not a constitutional right
By Roland Halpern Colorado voters may soon be asked to place hunting and fishing in the state constitution. Proposition 302 would establish the right to hunt, fish and take wildlife using “traditional methods,” while declaring hunting and fishing are the state’s preferred means of managing wildlife. But though hunting and fishing are an important management […]
Hunting is a privilege, not a constitutional right
By Roland Halpern Colorado voters may soon be asked to place hunting and fishing in the state constitution. Proposition 302 would establish the right to hunt, fish and take wildlife using “traditional methods,” while declaring hunting and fishing are the state’s preferred means of managing wildlife. But though hunting and fishing are an important management […]
Survey shows Americans want to start brain health habits earlier
A new national survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds most U.S. adults believe brain health habits should begin before age 40.
Small Business Development Center at PSCC honors Maryville-based specialty jam maker with Rising Star Award
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Pellissippi State Community College is helping entrepreneurs across East Tennessee turn ideas into thriving businesses. This year’s recipient of the center’s 2026 Rising Star Award is one example of that impact. Jammin Jams TN, owned by Maryville-based and self-described “Jam Lady” Janice Hullett, has been recognized for its […]
As deaths mount at Michigan's women's prison, critics impugn health care
Five women have died at Michigan's women's prison since May, sparking allegations of poor medical care. State officials insist it is adequate.
Lexington County could take on $74 million in debt for a sports complex
The Lexington County Recreation Commission is proposing a multi-sports complex off Interstate 77, but there are questions about how it will be paid for.
Progressive Peggy Flanagan sweeps Minnesota Senate primary in race defined by anti-ICE anger
State’s Democratic lieutenant governor bests Angie Craig in another election contest pitting a progressive against a moderate
JaMarcus Shephard to Beaver Nation: "Get your tickets"
This morning, Oregon State's first year head coach spoke with the media. Learn more here.
Phantom Blade Zero pre-orders now available, 11-minute trailer; dedicated State of Play set for August 17
S-GAME has opened pre-orders and released an 11-minute trailer for Wuxia action RPG Phantom Blade Zero.
State health officials report 906 cyclosporiasis cases since May, with 39 new since Aug. 4
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has reported 906 cases of cyclosporiasis since May, according to the latest data on their website.The
Willits business owner to host Thursday event highlighting no-cost advising • The Mendocino Voice
Small businesses can get advising at no-cost from state program which also helps secure capital.
'They all happen to be Republican': Curley not surprised WA ranked 38th best state to start a business
KIRO host John Curley wasn't surprised to find out Washington was ranked near the bottom on WalletHub's list of best states to start a business.
Sharp HealthCare announces restructuring that will impact about 260 workers
Number includes 120 behavioral health workers who will be offered jobs on different shifts to comply with new state law
Whitmer's chief of staff also consulted for national political group
Operatives said the arrangement raised questions about how someone could work for a political entity while also helping lead the state's top office.
Dems move to stop Blakeman’s AI depictions; he claims they’re trying to cheat
New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs filed a complaint with the state Board of Elections alleging the Blakeman campaign is violating state law.
Bryce Underwood’s Ohio State Comment Will Get Michigan Fans Talking
Bryce Underwood called Ohio State “just another game,” but Michigan’s quarterback once described the rivalry as the biggest in sports.
N.Y. data center tour coming to a stop near you?
The “NY Fights AI Data Centers” statewide tour is scheduled to visit 13 sites with data centers or proposed data centers across New York.
N.Y. data center tour coming to a stop near you?
The “NY Fights AI Data Centers” statewide tour is scheduled to visit 13 sites with data centers or proposed data centers across New York.
Inspector general finds California High-Speed Rail business plan incomplete
California’s high-speed rail project has made progress in meeting legal reporting requirements, but state oversight officials say major gaps and clarity problem
Jury selection continues on Day 2 of Tupac's murder trial. Why did it take 30 years to get here?
The long-awaited trial over Tupac Shakur's 1996 killing begins on Monday, with prosecutors relying heavily on Duane "Keffe D" Davis's own statements.
Democrats swap candidates in key metro State House race
New Mexico Democrats are swapping candidates in a key State House race in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights where they have their target set on unseating one of the few Republicans representing a House or Senate district in Albuquerque. This story was originally published at New Mexico Political Report, a nonprofit news service covering politics and policy […]
Apple extends 2026 Back to School deals on Macs and iPads until September 24
College students in the United States just got a few extra weeks to claim Apple’s 2026 Back to School deals on select Macs and iPads.
Apple Extends 2026 Back to School Promotion Until September 24
Apple today extended its 2026 Back to School Promotion until September 24, which means it will last almost a month longer than planned. The extension is applicable in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and multiple countries in Asia. The Back to School promotion offers a free item or gift card when students or educators purchase an eligible Mac or iPad model, plus an educational discount.
Democrat Amy Acton breaks with party to support Issue 3
Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton is breaking with her party to support Issue 3, an amendment enshrining the state's voter photo identification requirement in the state constitution.
What to watch in primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota and beyond
The left vs. center theme is on display in Democratic primaries in multiple states voting Tuesday, with other significant races in places like Alabama and South Carolina.
North Dakota’s SBDC turns 40
Organization's work has created tens of thousands of jobs in North Dakota, says State Director Tiffany Ford
11 S.D. companies named to Inc. 5000 list
A Sioux Falls online boutique was the fastest-growing company in South Dakota to make the annual Inc. 5000 list, which this year included 11 companies from the state.
2026 Great New York State Fair Special Days Lineup
The Great New York State Fair will spotlight the State’s diverse cultures, industries and traditions with a lineup of Special Days during its run.
NH's Business: What's happening with state's 2nd-largest revenue-generating industry: tourism?
Fred Kocher sits down with Lucy Lange, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, to discuss whether Canadian visits are rebounding after a big drop last year.
Anti-ICE protestors call out Susan Collins in Biddeford
Protestors took to the streets outside of the offices of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) statewide, demanding she take responsibility for what they said was support of ICE.
Live Results: Connecticut midterm primaries
Two veteran Democratic incumbents in Connecticut face strong challenges in a state primary on Tuesday.
Fall sports season approaches as ISD 166 holds Aug. 11 meeting
ISD 166 will hold a fall sports meeting Tuesday at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The meeting will give parents and students an overview of Minnesota State High School League expectations and bylaws for student-athletes. The school’s fall athletics programs are scheduled to begin before the start of the...
As Candida auris spreads, UT Health San Antonio scientist highlights growing threat of antifungal resistance
Life-threatening fungus now in 27 states; Texas with second-most clinical cases Contact: Steven Lee, (210) 450-3823, lees22@uthscsa.edu Content provided by Claire Kowalick SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 11, 2026 – As cases of the potentially deadly drug-resistant fungal infection Candida auris have spread to 27 states, including Texas with the second-highest number, a scientist at UT Health […]
Rossford business owners cheer roundabout project's completion
After two months of work, a new roundabout in downtown Rossford has officially opened. The $2.8 million roundabout at the State Rt. 65 (Dixie Highway), ...
Oklahoma Health Department reports 506 cyclosporiasis cases statewide
The Oklahoma State Department of Health has updated the cyclosporiasis numbers in Oklahoma, with 496 confirmed cases and 10 probable cases as of Tuesday, Aug. 1
Opinion: Illinois can’t wait until families are in crisis to invest in them
A state that waits for families to collapse will keep paying a premium for preventable crises.
Heart health enters the future with a $28.7 million gift from the Marcus Foundation
Related News USC Stem Cell welcomes new leader, renowned physician-scientist Chuck Murry August 20, 2024 An early blood test can predict survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, shows USC […]
Live Results: Alabama midterm U.S. House primaries after redistricting
Voters in four of Alabama’s seven congressional districts will select U.S. House nominees Tuesday under a new map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts currently represented by Democrats.
I tracked my daughter's road trip all night
When my 19-year-old drove to another state for a concert, I realized the trip wasn't just about her independence. It was about mine, too.
Former OMB, State Budget Leader Lauren Larson Joining the Bipartisan Policy Center as Executive Vice President for Economic and Health Policy
Washington, DC — Today, the Bipartisan Policy Center announced that Lauren Larson will join the organization as executive vice president of economic and health policy on August 25. Larson brings deep expertise in fiscal and health policymaking at the state and federal levels. She will run the economic policy and health programs and lead the … Continued
Trump Administration Bypasses Science Again, Doubles Down on Restrictions to Childhood Vaccines
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration today issued a new executive order directing changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule that, if fully implemented, would reduce access to life-saving vaccines for children, add new barriers to care, and further degrade the scientific process the federal government has relied on for decades to ensure vaccine access […]
U.S. Says It Revoked More Than 175,000 Visas Under Trump
Most visas were rescinded over criminal accusations, the State Department said, while some were revoked from people who had celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
MAHA Political Endorsements Shape August Republican Primaries
MAHA political endorsements target state Republican primary elections with medical freedom legislation. Analysis of Kennedy's health policy impact on 2026 races.
Colorado New Business Filings Show Growth in q2
New business filings in Colorado increased sharply in the second quarter of 2026, rising both from the previous quarter and a year earlier, according to a new report from the University of Colorado Boulder and the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.
Hawkeye Football Opponent Preview: Iowa State
It’s out with the old and in with the new in Ames. Does that mean a Hawkeye W in Iowa City?
The US tried to stop cartel money-laundering. It devastated mom-and-pop businesses instead
Small businesses pay hidden toll after money-transfer rule change to curb illicit activities near the US-Mexico border
James Talarico Said He Wouldn’t Accept Any Endorsements From the Pulpit. He Just Did.
The Democratic nominee for Senate has decried such political engagement from pastors, saying that the church-state boundary is “sacred.”
The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized
Now that Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, the outcome of this crucial race will depend mainly on two things: Whether Republicans succeed in demonizing El-Sayed because he’s brown and a Muslim, and whether they succeed in demonizing him as a left-wing radical. I will defer for the now the question of whether bigotry will be effective this year, although I will address it another day. What I want to address instead is El-Sayed’s signature issue — healthcare. Yes, El-Sayed advocates Medicare for All, a position the usual suspects denounce as “socialism.” I will get to the politics of his stance soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the substance. We should be clear that El-Sayed doesn’t even call himself a socialist. On the contrary, he explicitly disavows the label, saying “I’m a capitalist who just knows about capitalism”. In fact, as I explained in a previous post, the policies that El-Sayed advocates qualify him as a social democrat, not a socialist. Still, El-Sayed advocates a system under which the government would pay almost all medical expenses. Isn’t that socialism? Well, if that is the criterion then much of U.S. healthcare is already socialist. In fact, the government’s role is so large that U.S. healthcare is better described as partially privatized socialism than as anything resembling a free market. Let’s start with the raw numbers on health insurance, which pays the bulk of Americans’ medical expenses. Americans receive health insurance either from private companies or from public programs, overwhelmingly Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what the breakdown of coverage and spending between private and public looked like in 2024: While a majority of Americans with health insurance get it from private companies, well over 100 million of us are covered by government programs instead. And these government programs pay more total dollars for medical bills than the private insurers do. Why do government programs that cover a minority of the population account for a majority of health insurers’ outlays? Mainly because Medicare covers seniors, and we’re expensive. Also, while Medicaid covers many younger Americans, disabled and elderly beneficiaries account for most of its spending. Even by the raw numbers, then, U.S. health insurance looks as much public as private. But that understates the government’s role: Private health insurance in the U.S. is both highly regulated and heavily subsidized. This is obviously true for the insurance coverage purchased by tens of millions of Americans through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. But employment-based health insurance, which covers 161 million Americans, is far more of a government creation than most people realize. For employment-based insurance exists largely because of huge implicit government subsidies that come with major strings attached. Here’s how that works. If your employer pays you $10,000, that’s taxable income. But if your employer pays $10,000 toward a company health insurance plan that meets certain criteria, it isn’t taxable. That’s a huge effective subsidy, running at more than $300 billion a year. Take that subsidy into account, along with the more than $100 billion per year spent subsidizing policies purchased under the ACA, as well as the outlays on Medicare and Medicaid, and net effect is that the government pays for more than two-thirds of Americans’ health insurance. Granted, there are strings attached. Roughly speaking, employment-based health plans can’t discriminate based on medical history — that is, they can’t deny coverage to employees with pre-existing conditions — and they also can’t offer the plans only to highly compensated employees — a health plan that is only for the C-suite is considered taxable income. So given the restrictions of the federal tax code, employer-based health insurance is a lot like Obamacare, which also prohibits discrimination based on medical history and provides subsidies to make insurance affordable to lower-paid workers. The fact is that virtually all of private healthcare insurance is already well under some form of government control through regulation and tax subsidies. How should we think about this system? First of all, is Medicare socialist? Don’t tell anyone, but the way Medicare operates — it covers every senior’s medical expenses, whatever they turn out to be, while being funded by taxes that depend on one’s income — could be summarized by the old Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” And back in 1961, when Ronald Reagan was the face of a last-ditch effort by the American Medical Association to block the creation of Medicare, he denounced Medicare as “socialized medicine” and warned that it would destroy our freedom. In reality, American freedom survived until Jan. 20, 2025, while Medicare is immensely popular, with an 82 percent favorable rating in the most recent KFF survey. Medicaid, government health insurance for lower-income Americans, comes in at 73 percent. This is in sharp contrast to public views about private insurers, who are widely disliked if not hated and accused of denying essential care. Furthermore, if Medicare is socialism, then the whole U.S. health insurance system, with the government paying most of the bills and placing conditions on private insurers, is almost equally socialist. If you insist on calling any program the government pays for and regulates socialist, then U.S. healthcare would best be described as a partially privatized form of socialism. And one must ask, what is the point of the part that is privatized? Do private insurers add anything positive? Or are they simply parasites, skimming off money that could have been paying for care? The case for viewing insurers as parasites is strong. Many Medicare benefits are now delivered via Medicare Advantage, that is, plans paid for by the government but run through insurance companies. MedPAC, an independent advisory commission, estimates that last year Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by $84 billion, thanks to practices such as “upcoding,” in which patients’ health problems are overstated to get larger sums from Medicare. Assessing the waste from employer-based insurance is harder, but most evidence suggests that private insurers have substantially higher administrative costs than Medicare does. Furthermore, the complexity of private insurance, with multiple payers all trying to deny care when they can, is a huge burden both on providers — doctors, nurses, and hospitals — and on patients. What do private insurers offer to compensate for these costs? One must go through intellectual contortions to avoid the conclusion that they are, in fact, parasites. Which brings me back to El-Sayed. In supporting Medicare for All, he’s basically calling for an end to the partial, parasitic privatization of a healthcare system that is already hugely dependent on public funding. When one looks at it that way, it’s not at all a radical proposal. Admittedly, the political lift requires overcoming the opposition to higher taxes to pay for Medicare for All. Political realism rather than economics was the reason I and many other progressives supported Obamacare, with all its complexities, rather than demanding an immediate move to Medicare for All. But the political calculus may very well have shifted since the 2000s, as Americans are fed up with a system of unaffordable premiums, rampant claim denials, and byzantine claim administration. Moreover, funding healthcare insurance through taxation would allow for a much more progressive distribution of the cost. That is, compared to the present system, middle-income households would pay less as high-income households would pay more. And the U.S. would stop wasting large sums on pointless administrative costs. So let’s be clear: El-Sayed’s healthcare platform is perfectly reasonable on the merits of cost, fairness and health efficacy. And with private insurers never more hated, while millions of Americans are losing their health insurance, 2026 may be its time. MUSICAL CODA
Wisconsin considers democratic socialist for governor amid US wave of progressive wins
Francesca Hong is Democratic frontrunner in four-way primary race to lead the swing state, a test of anti-establishment sentiment
Trump loves data centers. Americans hate them
If there’s a true populist issue built for our time, it might be opposition to AI data centers. Lawmakers and candidates from both parties across states are increasingly positioning themselves as critics of data center proliferation. And recent primary results suggest it’s a pretty potent issue.
Universities of Wisconsin wants to train 35K new health care professionals in next decade
The $90 million proposal will be included in the 2027-29 budget that is presented to the Wisconsin state Legislature and governor in the fall.
Spangler's poor health requires urgent testimony, judge rules
Attorneys for the indicted men and the state agree: Sheriff Tom Spangler, who is fighting pancreatic cancer, should testify under oath without delay.
Brenda Lucas: Community news for Tuesday, Aug. 11
Click for community news in the Huntington, West Virginia, and Tri-State area.
Montana State students to help NASA science soar during 2026 total solar eclipse
BOZEMAN — Each total solar eclipse — when daytime skies darken and the sun briefly reveals its outer atmosphere, or corona — presents new opportunities to better understand our star,
East Bay congressional race to replace Eric Swalwell heats up between Aisha Wahab, Melissa Hernandez
Voters in the East Bay have about a week to decide who will fill the remainder of former Rep. Eric Swalwell's congressional term in a special election that has become an expensive and increasingly contentious contest between two Democrats. BART Board President Melissa Hernandez and state Sen. Aisha Wahab are facing off in the race.
Uniper's first-half core profit rises on stronger gas business
German state-owned utility Uniper on Tuesday reported that core profit nearly doubled in the first half of 2026, boosted by the absence of negative impact on the group's gas business that had weighed on profits a year earlier.
Steve Hilton talks cutting costs, achieving balance in California politics
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton joined KTVU to talk about his proposals for cutting costs in the state and achieving balance in California politics.
ESU volleyball carries unfinished business into new season
After coming four points shy of an MIAA championship and missing the NCAA Tournament, Emporia State volleyball enters the season with a chip on its shoulder.
Gardner could be home to planned 335-acre arts, education and entertainment district
The plans for a proposed development near 175th Street and Interstate 35 in Gardner include a 15,000-seat concert venue, a media college and an esports arena.
Trump Stokes Islamophobia by Calling Democratic Candidates ‘Jihadists’
Along with his comments about Muslim candidates, Mr. Trump spoke disparagingly of Somalis in the United States, saying “they’re not smart.”
Experts warn Oklahomans should expect health insurance costs to spike
As Oklahoma’s state employees face potential double-digit hikes in health insurance premiums, experts are warning that all Oklahomans should brace for a similar shock this year.
Boone County Fair opens Tuesday in Belvidere for six days of entertainment
The Boone County Fair will open its gates at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in Belvidere for a six-day event featuring entertainment, thrill rides and food.
Jury selection begins in Tupac's murder case. Why did it take 30 years to get here?
The long-awaited trial over Tupac Shakur's 1996 killing begins on Monday, with prosecutors relying heavily on Duane "Keffe D" Davis's own statements.
Could Boise State football go 12-0? USA Sports’ lead analyst thinks it’s possible
“Simply put, they are expectation-wise probably the leader in the clubhouse on who should win this conference,” Ryan Leaf said.
Pied-à-terre tax rollout blocked temporarily by Staten Island judge
The next hearing is set for Aug. 31.
Pied-à-terre tax rollout blocked temporarily by Staten Island judge
The next hearing is set for Aug. 31.
CBS Sports believes Youngstown State could upset Kentucky to open Will Stein Era
Is Will Stein on upset alert in his very first game as a head coach? CBS Sports believes Youngstown State could make things interesting.
Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network to host mental health panel at APSU
The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network’s Mid-Cumberland Region will host a panel discussion at Austin Peay State University.
Judge pauses pied-à-terre tax rollout after homeowners allege botched launch
Staten Island Judge Wayne Ozzi heard arguments on a motion for a temporary restraining order to block the rollout of the pied-à-terre tax.
State finalizing agreements for about $39 million in Rural Health Transformation funding, Singh says
The West Virginia Department of Health is finalizing agreements to award approximately $39 million in federal funding.
The science behind tomatoes and better health
Tomatoes contain lycopene and other nutrients linked to heart and prostate health. Learn the science and how to add tomatoes to your diet.
The science behind tomatoes and better health
Tomatoes contain lycopene and other nutrients linked to heart and prostate health. Learn the science and how to add tomatoes to your diet.
82 northeast Minnesota businesses sign letter to lawmakers requesting wildfire relief funds
The letter comes after Gov. Walz said there would not be a special session held to address the economic impacts of the fire.
California may fine content creators who don't disclose they were paid to post about politics
States are debating whether to crack down on social media influencers making political advertisements without disclosing that they were paid.
Meet the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 2026 Forty Under 40 class
Thirty years is a long time to do much of anything. To be able to recognize the coming-of-age leadership in this fantastic region of the state for the last three...
http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-trumps-gold-standard-vaccine-executive-order-puts-politics-ahead
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement on President Trump’s executive order establishing so-called "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations:"
http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-trumps-gold-standard-vaccine-executive-order-puts-politics-ahead
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement on President Trump’s executive order establishing so-called "Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations:"
Oregon lawmakers condemn reported attack against Sen. Janeen Sollman
Sen. Janeen Sollman was reportedly verbally and physically accosted by a man on Aug. 8, prompting bipartisan condemnation of political violence.
Gencom Divides Into Two Business Lines With Leadership Promotions
Real estate investment firm Gencom is reorganizing into two different business lines, with new hires and promotions to match.
August 10 "Colorado Chamber Office Hours": Secretary of State candidates talk business issues
Colorado Secretary of State candidates James Wiley and Amanda Gonzalez talk business issues on the "Colorado Chamber Office Hours" podcast.
Will the Dome be deflated? Anchorage sports facility launches fundraising campaign.
The Dome has been the home of the state's largest indoor field for nearly 20 years. The facility's operators are asking for help funding the replacement of its exterior.
Study links student gambling problems to mental health
As gambling becomes more accessible to college students, a statewide study of Mississippi's public universities found gambling problems frequently occur alongside depression, anxiety and substance use.
White House Attempt To Control Science Grants Is Blocked - For Now
The plan by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to subject all United States research grants to political oversight has been halted by the
HHS Secretary declares public health emergency for wildfires in Washington
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Aug. 7 declared a public health emergency for Washington state to address the impacts of ongoing wildfires.
Lifeways getting new van to help mental health services in Jackson
Rep. Schmaltz secures funding for innovative van to help people in need State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz has secured $210,000 in the new state budget for LifeWays, the Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health program, to purchase an Innovative Mobile Mental Health Crisis Unit that will expand access to mental health services throughout Jackson County. The innovative unit […]
Scientists Release Biggest 2D Map of the Universe
Key Takeaways The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys combined more than 263,000 telescope exposures to make the largest 2D map of the universe in visible and near-infrared light. Astronomers can pair the Legacy Surveys map with their own observations to explore our universe and search for rare phenomena. The 2D map serves as the foundation for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey to measure the universe in 3D and investigate dark energy. Hold on to your telescopes: the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys team has released the largest-ever 2D color map of the universe. The 5.6-trillion-pixel map contains nearly 4 billion celestial objects, primarily stars and galaxies. The data is available for all to use and publicly viewable through the Legacy Survey Sky Viewer. Astronomers and citizen scientists can explore the map or combine it with their own observations to better understand our universe. Researchers can search for rare phenomena like gravitational lenses, observe fleeting events like supernovae, and investigate two of physics’ biggest mysteries: dark matter, the invisible substance that accounts for most of the mass in our universe, and dark energy, the force driving our universe’s accelerating expansion. The new map builds on earlier versions from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys that have already proved invaluable. To date, more than 1,800 science papers that reference the Legacy Surveys data have been published. “It’s part of the fabric of astronomy research now,” said David Schlegel, a co-lead of the Legacy Surveys and scientist at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). “When you’re working with astronomical objects today, you often start by pulling up the Legacy Imaging Viewer to see what you’re looking at.” Covering roughly 75% of the sky in visible and near-infrared light, the updated map provides a deep view of the extragalactic universe not blocked by the dust and stars of our own Milky Way. Researchers expect it will remain the most comprehensive 2D map of our universe for years to come. More than 160 scientists contributed to data collection for the project, and a team of 20 produced the final dataset released today. It was built by combining 263,407 telescope exposures from three ground-based sky surveys: the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS) at NSF Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Mayall z-band Legacy Survey (MzLS) at NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory, and the Beijing-Arizona Sky Survey (BASS) at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory. That was supplemented by years of data from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite mission and additional public data. “For our team, these data are fundamental to our investigation of the expansion history of the universe and the formation of our galaxy,” said Arjun Dey, co-lead of the Legacy Surveys and an astronomer at NSF NOIRLab. “But the skies belong to everyone, and this survey gives everyone the chance to explore the sky and marvel at its wonders.” Here be galaxies The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys were originally conducted to prepare for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey. The Legacy Surveys’ 2D map is essentially a deep photograph of the sky; it records where galaxies and stars appear and how bright they appear. This crucial step enables DESI to select objects and measure their light in different wavelengths to determine their distances, building the largest high-resolution 3D map ever made. Scientists study the way galaxies have clustered at different ages of the universe to track dark energy over time. In April 2026, DESI completed its original five-year survey ahead of schedule and with vastly more objects than expected. The early results have shown surprising hints that dark energy’s impact may be weakening over time — a paradigm shift that could potentially shape the predicted fate of our universe. DESI expects to publish improved results using their first five years of data in 2027 and is continuing observations into 2028. DESI was so efficient at observing galaxies, the Legacy Surveys map needed to expand. Early on, “it became clear we might run out of galaxies to look at and run out of sky, and we better start doing something about that,” said Schlegel, who also works on DESI. The new Legacy Surveys map has been used to select DESI targets since June 2026 and will guide the telescope’s operations over the coming years. Computing the cosmos Merging hundreds of thousands of images taken on 2,285 nights, each with unique atmospheric and telescope conditions, was a massive computational effort. It took about a year to develop the computer code and eight weeks to process all the images at the Perlmutter supercomputer at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) at Berkeley Lab. Beyond supporting DESI, the Legacy Surveys will be a foundational reference for the next generation of telescopes. As new observatories like the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory (jointly funded by NSF and DOE’s Office of Science) and NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope come online, researchers can compare their observations with one of the deepest and most comprehensive views of the sky ever assembled. The Legacy Surveys data will also help scientists train artificial intelligence tools to analyze petabytes of astronomical data and accelerate new discoveries. It will be among the datasets used in an astrophysics pilot project within the American Science Cloud, part of the DOE’s Genesis Mission. The DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys are supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of High Energy Physics; the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, a DOE Office of Science user facility; the U.S. National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences; and the partner institutions. DESI is supported by the DOE Office of Science and NERSC. Additional support for DESI is provided by the NSF; the Science and Technology Facilities Council of the United Kingdom; the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; the Heising-Simons Foundation; the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA); the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI) of Mexico; the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain; and by the DESI member institutions. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
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