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GOP Ignoring Rise in Health-Care Costs Won’t Make It Go Away
As Republicans fail to address rising Obamacare premium costs for 20 million Americans, it’s becoming a more and more potent midterms issue.
Black hole outburst 'Jetty McJetface' is one of the most energetic objects in the universe — and only growing brighter
Scientists say a jet from a previously studied supermassive black hole has grown brighter, becoming one of the most energetic events in the universe.
Mobile sports betting bill passes Mississippi House
Mobile sports betting passed the House, clearing its first hurdle to becoming Mississippi law. Now, it faces an unfriendly Senate again.
'Becoming' media moguls? Michelle Obama, Melania Trump pursue Hollywood
"Melania," the first lady's documentary offers a differing approach to the Obamas' turn in Hollywood after they exited the White House.
Exposure to low-credibility online health content is limited and is concentrated among older adults
Nature Aging - Concerns over health misinformation online are becoming increasingly important. Here the authors show that older adults are more likely than younger people to encounter...
Patriots’ Stefon Diggs Finally Gets Chance To Answer Viral Question
Stefon Diggs is one of the most recognizable faces in football, but his introduction to the general public didn’t have anything to do with his on-field accomplishments. Diggs, long before becoming an enigmatic superstar for the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and New England Patriots, was just a young player looking to find his […]
Becoming a parent pushed me to leave corporate life
Shawn Asselin explains how frustration with men's underwear led him to quit corporate life and build a fast-growing brand.
Fuller: The Rule of Law is America’s way out of political violence
The Rule of Law is not an abstraction. It is the guardrail that keeps disagreement from becoming destruction.
Colorado's mental health care providers face too many administrative burdens
Colorado should address the administrative burdens associated with becoming a credentialed mental health care provider on insurance panels.
From Y’all Street to Y’allywood: Texas is becoming an entertainment power center
An entertainment industry is burgeoning in Texas.
Q&A: Commissioner Justin Rodriguez explains why county government is becoming a political battleground
Texas' largest counties have frequently run up against the state's GOP in its quest to innovate, putting a bigger spotlight on their leaders.
Galaxy S26 Ultra Could Be 6% More Expensive Than Galaxy S25 Ultra Due To DRAM, NAND Price Increases; Samsung Betting On AI, SoC Upgrade & New Camera To Generate Sales
Due to rising mobile DRAM and NAND flash prices, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could end up becoming an estimated 6 percent more expensive than the Galaxy S25 Ultra
The Penguins scoring depth is becoming biggest surprise of season
The Pittsburgh Penguins are still getting contributions from all over their lineup this season.
Clay gets a $1 million boost to revive its waterfront, a step toward becoming entertainment destination
The grants will help pay for a boat launch and shoreline improvements at Three Rivers Point.
M12's Cheng: Health Care One of The Fastest AI Adopters
Cheryl Cheng, managing partner at M12, Microsoft’s venture fund, says health care has shifted from being slow to adopt technology to becoming one of the fastest adopters of AI. She speaks with Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on “The Close.” (Source: Bloomberg)
Why Music Catalogues Are Becoming The Hottest Asset In Entertainment
Music catalogs are emerging as stable, long-term assets, attracting investors with consistent returns and cultural value.
Learner Tien shuts down Trump question at Australian Open amid political grilling of American players
American tennis players at the Australian Open continue to face political questions about the Trump administration, with rising star Learner Tien becoming the latest to decline comment.
The Odds: Is DHS Secy. Noem becoming an unavoidable political problem for President Trump?
When Pittsburgh sports fans look at Baltimore, we see our reflection
I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, specifically Beaver County, where most young boys dream of becoming star athletes. But now I find myself residing in...
Employer Health Insurance Isn't Fitting the Bill. We Need a New Way Forward.
America has a health insurance problem – and it’s only getting worse. These days, most Americans get their health insurance through employer-sponsored health plans. However, that system is becoming increasingly costly, with premiums up 25% in the last five years. And it’s not just individual ...
Businesses face pressure to respond to immigration enforcement while also becoming a target of it
On Sunday, after the U.S. Border Patrol shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies signed an open letter calling for “an immediate deescalation of tensions."
Why concrete is becoming a climate flashpoint for AI
The rapid expansion of U.S. data centers to support artificial intelligence is creating a new climate challenge—one that begins long before servers are powered on, Bloomberg writes. The massive facilities require enormous amounts of concrete, a carbon-intensive material that could generate nearly 2 million metric tons of CO2 through 2030 if built with traditional methods, […]
Political polarization in Pittsburgh communities is rooted in economic neglect − not extremism
Voters in places like Aliquippa and Braddock aren’t becoming more radical; they’re responding to decades of disinvestment and institutional failure.
Is Immigration Enforcement Becoming A Political Liability For Trump?
Immigration enforcement was once a defining pillar of Trump’s political identity. It is now a focal point for public resistance, judicial scrutiny and declining trust
Josh Groban looks back: ‘Music became a liability to my mental health’
The singer-songwriter and actor on depression, becoming a sex symbol and rebelling in his 30s in his ‘middle-finger phase’
Flames Searching for Answers Amid Prolonged Offensive Drought
The Calgary Flames’ offensive struggles are not just a short-term slump — they’re becoming a defining storyline of the season.
Missouri lawmakers move bills forward to protect businesses from 'sue and settle' website litigation
Five bills aiming to protect small businesses from "abusive website access litigation" were passed by the Missouri House of Representative lawmakers Wednesday, and are on their way possibly becoming Missouri law.
BIZNOTE: Meet the new owners of longtime West Seattle business O’Neill Plumbing
Tyler and Katie Blanchard wanted to ensure that O’Neill Plumbing - founded in 1917 - would remain a family-owned business. So they bought it. Tyler worked for the Morgan Junction-based plumbing company (a WSB sponsor) for 15 years before becoming co-owner wirh Katie, whose previous career was in health care, with a focus on nursing. ...
After helping grow her family’s businesses, new business development manager focuses on reaching other families
From helping grow her own family's businesses to now becoming a resource for others, meet the business development manager ready to help family businesses succeed.
How Playing Pokémon Became the Ultimate Test of AI’s Intelligence
Nintendo’s original Pokémon games are becoming a popular and strangely effective way to test and benchmark new artificial-intelligence models. “We’re all a whole bunch of nerds,” said the man behind the trend.
Ben Johnson, Bears look ahead after breakthrough season
The Chicago Bears thrilled the city in coach Ben Johnson's first season. “There is no building off of this,” Johnson said on Wednesday. The Bears are obviously starting from a stronger position, with Caleb Williams on his way to becoming a franchise quarterback after setting the team's single-season passing record in his second year and Johnson looking like the coach to lead him to that next level.
AI’s growing thirst for water is becoming a public health risk
AI’s rapid expansion is placing growing pressure on water supplies and public health.
Resilient health: A new investment frontier
Resilient health is becoming a high‑growth frontier for capital: scalable, investible, risk-reducing, and aligned with global policy and market momentum.
Small Business Technology News: How Coca-Cola, Nike & Starbucks Are Using AI
Big brands are leveraging AI for customer experience, Deloitte says AI is helping workers, Microsoft Teams is becoming more secure, and more news impacting your business this week.
Scientists map key oceanic unknowns in climate interventions
As Earth warms due to climate change, oceans are heating up, becoming more acidic, and losing oxygen. These changes threaten marine life, food webs, and global fisheries. Scientists agree that cutting ...
Nebraska becomes first NCAA Power 4 team to add women's flag football
Nebraska announced its plans to play women's flag football at the varsity level by 2028, becoming the first NCAA Power 4 program to do so.
Analysis: Minneapolis is becoming a critical testing ground for Trump’s strongman project
Bleak omens point to something horrible building in Minneapolis.
Stay 'Blessed': Chicago's Success Becoming 'Difficult to Quantify'
The NFC is wide open, and it appears Chicago is the postseason's 'blessed' team. Sammy P reports.
AI as a life coach: experts share what works, what doesn’t and what to look out for
It’s becoming more common for people to use AI chatbots for personal guidance – but this doesn’t come without risks
Public health cannot survive Trump’s me-first worldview
The consequences of the erosion of public health policies will be real and are becoming increasingly palpable.
NFL Divisional Round Report: Bears Action Becoming 'Unprecedented'
All of a sudden, bettors can't get enough of Chicago — even against the favored Rams. Patrick Everson reports on that and more.
The long-term health impacts from the LA wildfires are just becoming clear
The fires affected millions of people in the region. It could take years to understand the health consequences, but ongoing research is helping to prepare people to weather the next fires more safely.
‘Are You The One?’ Producer Lighthearted Entertainment Acquired By Blink49 Studios
The move bolsters Blink49’s expansion into the unscripted business with Rob LaPlante and Jeff Spangler becoming Co-Presidents, Formats, Blink49.
Endocrinology — Uniting the Legacy and Future of Basic Endocrine Science
Read the inaugural editorial from Endocrinology’s new Editor-in-Chief, Manuel Tena-Sempere, MD, PhD, outlining the vision for the journal to continue its high-quality standards spanning foundational, translational, and preclinical research investigating endocrine and metabolic function in health and disease while becoming more influential and attractive for a wider array of scientists worldwide.
Scientists discover what’s linking floods and droughts across the planet
Scientists tracking Earth’s water from space discovered that El Niño and La Niña are synchronizing floods and droughts across continents. When these climate cycles intensify, far-apart regions can become unusually wet or dangerously dry at the same time. The study also found a global shift about a decade ago, with dry extremes becoming more common than wet ones. Together, the results show that water crises are part of a global pattern, not isolated events.
A Honda-Sony joint car project shows off 2nd EV prototype focused on entertainment
As is becoming traditional for Sony Honda Mobility, details on the car part of the car are scarce.
As China’s companies expand overseas, entrepreneurs want the passports to match
Local residency is becoming an essential asset for China’s business owners as they go abroad, granting benefits and networking opportunities.
Power Supplies and CPU Coolers are Next For Price Hikes, 6-10% Increase Expected
With the cycle of DRAM and GPUs becoming more expensive just beginning, it seems the next step in the price increase trend is the most basic PC building parts like power supplies and CPU coolers. According to Guangzhou Xinhongzheng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, a leading electronics manufacturer i...
Caddo Magnet student recognized nationally for science research. 'exceptional promise' in STEM
A Caddo Parish Magnet High School senior, Maya Trutschl, received national recognition for her innovative research, becoming one of the Top 300 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2026 Scholars.
Indian-origin mathematician Nalini Joshi named New South Wales’ Scientist of the Year | - The Times of India
Science News: Indian-origin mathematician Nalini Joshi has been named New South Wales’ Scientist of the Year, becoming the first mathematician to receive the state’.
Greater Cleveland Partnership's small business group names new board chair
Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), the small business group of Greater Cleveland Partnership, has named a new board chair. Taylor Evans, the president of Rust Belt Recruiting, took the position this month, succeeding Cheryl Perez, CEO of Cheryl C Perez Brand of Companies, who finished her two-year term with the group. Evans steps into the role following a long history with COSE, initially joining the organization in the summer of 2018 and becoming a board member six months later, the organization said in a news release."Taylor has an incredible passion for small business," Megan Kim, executive director of COSE, said in an emailed statement to Crain's. "He is equally invested in the growth of his own business and the business community in Greater Cleveland. He is well connected, collaborative, and a natural leader."
'It can be unnecessary - and even too much': Are violent video games like Grand Theft Auto 6 becoming too realistic?
The latest in the franchise is the most hyped release of 2026 and looks set to push the boundaries of gaming visuals – but it could prove more disturbing than entertaining.
The Scientists Making Antacids for the Sea to Help Counter Global Warming
The world’s oceans are becoming dangerously acidic. A controversial proposal would raise the pH — by mixing chemicals into the water.
First ‘Entertainment Tonight’ Producer and Former King World and CNBC Exec Andy Friendly Dies at 74
Veteran TV exec and Emmy-nominated producer Andy Friendly died Sunday, Jan. 4, at his home in Bel-Air, according to his family. Friendly was 74. Friendly, the son of legendary journalist Fred Friendly and brother of producer David Friendly, began his career as a writer and producer at NBC News in New York, later becoming a …
Unregulated gambling on politics: What could go wrong?
Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are becoming a regular fixture in American politics. Sure seems a lot like betting to me.
Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc. and Southdale YMCA Announce New Heart Health Partnership to Serve the Edina, Minnesota Community
EDINA, Minn. & CHICAGO, January 06, 2026--Cardio Diagnostics announced a partnership with the Southdale YMCA, becoming the second YMCA location nationally to partner with Cardio Diagnostics.
More seniors are becoming homeless. Shelters are trying to adapt
Older adults are the fastest-growing homeless population across the U.S. Now some shelters are trying to make it easier to accommodate older people.
Jenkins takes oath as Westchester executive, rejects political theater
Kenneth Jenkins was elected to a full, three-year term in November, becoming Westchester's first Black county executive.
Doug Bowser has now retired from Nintendo of America
The mighty Doug Bower has now retired from Nintendo of America after being with the company for years and eventually becoming the president of Nintendo of America. Bowser said it has been “an honour”…
Brookfield to Start Cloud Business to Lower Cost of AI
Private-equity firm Brookfield is starting its own cloud business, going up against tech giants like Amazon by arguing it can bring down the costs of developing AI. The firm, which has long invested in infrastructure and energy, is becoming the first major investment firm to try to lease chips ...
Youth baseball becoming year-round sport in Wis., producing more talent but with concerns
Youth sports have become a year-round reality for many as more and more indoor sports facilities are being built in Wisconsin.
Now proving pesky for contenders, Jazz prepare to host Celtics
Utah is quickly becoming a problem NBA playoff contenders can't solve.
How monopolies caused havoc around the world in 2025
From tech companies to airlines and streaming services, monopolies are becoming more problematic around the world.
I left Big Law at 29 to become a rabbi, then changed careers again at 40. Here's what I learned about finding the perfect job.
Justin Pines, the CEO of the Jewish Broadcasting Service, initially took a "safe" career path in corporate law, before becoming a rabbi.
Oklahoma is one step closer to creating business courts
Business Courts are one step closer to becoming a reality in Oklahoma, after years of work from lawmakers, state leaders and a special task force. The hope is that business courts would alleviate some of the backlog from district courts.
The Year in Entertainment 2025: The TV that was top
The small screen took us everywhere from the shores of Cousins Beach to the emergency room at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center this year. Here's a look at the shows and limited series that defined 2025:It was the medical procedural drama The Pitt that scored the top prize at the Emmys this year. Led by Noah Wyle, who won the best actor in a drama Emmy for his portrayal of Dr. Robby in the new series, The Pitt's first season followed the challenges faced by health care workers on the front lines over the course of a single, 15-hour shift at the hospital. Other big winners at the ceremony included Seth Rogen's new comedy series The Studio, as well as the Netflix limited series Adolescence.Many prestige shows captured the cultural zeitgeist in 2025. Fans traveled to Thailand to check in for season 3 of The White Lotus, while the mystery at Lumon Industries continued to unfold as Severance season 2 rolled out. The Last of Us viewers mourned a fan-favorite character during its sophomore season, while Star Wars fans returned to a galaxy far, far away to bid farewell to Andor as it debuted its second and final season.Nobody could stop talking about The Summer I Turned Pretty. Whether you were team Conrad or team Jeremiah, fans couldn't keep their eyes off the dramatic third season of the teen romance series, which spanned from the U.S.'s East Coast all the way to Paris. While the series ended with Belly finally picking which brother she wanted to be with, the story isn't quite over. A feature film that will end the romantic saga has been greenlit by Prime Video.Finally, the year ended with the release of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. It turned Netflix's streaming records upside down, accumulating 59.6 million views in its first five days and becoming the best-ever premiere week viewing numbers for an English-language series on the streaming platform.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
I won $28 million in the Powerball when I was 21. One choice saved me from becoming a broke lottery winner.
Tim Schultz won the Powerball in 1999 as a 21-year-old gas station attendant. Here's what he thinks lottery winners should do — and his one regret.
Meet the third-generation Louisiana gas station CEO who chairs trade group for $906B industry
Growing up in the 1990s in tiny Mansura, about 30 miles southeast of Alexandria, Annie Gauthier dreamed of becoming a historian and later toyed with the idea of law school.
Libxml2 Narrowly Avoids Becoming Unmaintained
In an excellent example of one of the most overused XKCD images, the libxml2 library has for a little while lost its only maintainer, with [Nick Wellnhofer] making good on his plan to step down by …
Nine mental-health tips for a happier 2026
Regardless of any resolutions you may have for 2026, one thing is for sure: Everyone wants to have a happy new year.While losing weight or saving money may be great goals, the most straightforward path to happiness is caring for your mental and emotional health. A robust body of research shows that simple cognitive and behavioral strategies can reliably boost happiness and reduce stress – and they’re generally free and accessible to all.These strategies don’t have to be super time-consuming, but they do require intention: They only work if you do them.Here, psychologist Valentina Ogaryan, PhD, clinical director of the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, shares her top tips for cultivating more calm, centeredness and happiness in the new year (or anytime):Make time for playPlay isn’t just for kids, and it’s far from frivolous. The National Institute for Play says engaging in silliness, fun and just-for-pleasure activities reduces stress and increases optimism and resilience. A recent review also found that play improves mental health.“Adults can benefit from play as much as children,” Dr. Ogaryan says, “not just as a reward, but something that helps regulate.”So go ahead and dance with your dog, build something with Legos, tell a joke, sing karaoke or do anything else that feels like fun. Don’t worry about being productive, just enjoy yourself. And, if you can, opt for more analog play, Dr. Ogaryan suggests, as a respite from our ever-more-digital world. Move your bodyWhether you dance, ski, do yoga, play pickleball, ride a bike, roller-skate, hike or lift weights, physical movement benefits overall happiness and well-being. A 2018 review study of more than 1.2 million adults in the U.S. found that doing any kind of exercise was “significantly and meaningfully associated” with better self-reported mental health.The sweet spot was 45 minutes of movement three to five times a week, but even short bursts of physical activity can boost brain health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“Movement helps support mood and regulate the nervous system,” Dr. Ogaryan says.Plus: exercise can improve sleep quality, and sleep is essential for mental health.Prioritize sleep“Sleep plays a major role in managing stress,” Dr. Ogaryan says. Research shows that lack of sufficient sleep increases the risk of various diseases, including depression.While stress can interfere with sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene can make logging ZZ’s easier. That means maintaining a consistent bedtime; keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet; and avoiding social media, news and stimulating shows before bed.Consume lessWe live in a consumer culture, inundated by endless streams of content and advertising everywhere we go, which makes it easy to get overstimulated.“Something really helpful for stress reduction is to simply consume less,” Dr. Ogaryan says – less news, less social media, less information, less noise, less screen time. “It’s about reducing the input,” she says.Consider setting a maximum number of news articles per day, for example, or a time limit on scrolling. Maybe even go device free for an afternoon or a whole day.Practice present-moment awarenessWith so much coming at us all the time, focusing on the here and now can make life feel more manageable, Dr. Ogaryan says: “When everything feels super overwhelming, when everything feels larger than life, let’s make our world a little bit smaller for that moment in time.”She suggests taking things one day, or even one hour, at a time. Ask yourself: What’s my next right action? Release the need to know how everything turns out and liberate yourself from having to handle everything right now. Let the future take care of itself and just focus on the current moment. Then the next one. Have a daily anchorFrom work to the daily commute to family and life responsibilities, our days can feel jam-packed. Dr. Ogaryan recommends creating a centering daily anchor that can fit into even the busiest day.Maybe it’s a 10-minute walk during your lunch break or mindfully enjoying your coffee in the morning. Let your anchor adapt to your needs each day, she says, but be intentional about using that time to ground yourself and calm your nervous system. You might even say to yourself, “I choose this walk to help me become centered,” or “My day already feels stressful, so I’m going to take the next 10 minutes to enjoy this cup of coffee, feel the warm mug in my hand and just be present.” Having an anchor won’t erase the busy-ness from your day, but it will allow you to approach it more calmly.Be kind to yourselfMost of us have a harsh inner critic in our heads who works overtime. But that critical voice only increases our stress, triggering the same fight-or-flight response as caustic words from another person.To feel happier, we need to replace that inner critic with a kinder, more compassionate voice, Dr. Ogaryan says. Studies show that self-compassion is a source of eudaimonic happiness – the kind of happiness associated with purpose and meaning in life.While our knee-jerk reaction may be to self-criticize – “How could you let it get to this point? You didn’t manage your time well and now the project is going to be late. You’re so inept.” – we fare better mentally by treating ourselves with kindness, like we would a friend. That might sound like, “You’ve got a lot on your plate, but you are capable and you’ll get it done. I believe in you.”We may think that speaking kindly to ourselves means letting ourselves off the hook, so we end up becoming lazy do-nothings. But research shows the opposite: People who are self-compassionate are more likely to try harder in the face of failure and ultimately reach their goals.You can thank your inner critic for its good intentions, but resolve to talk to yourself in a kind, compassionate voice.Connect with othersHumans are social animals built for connection. Stress can be isolating and cause us to withdraw, but connecting with others is a salve for the psyche, Dr. Ogaryan says.“We know that not all relationships are always easy, but if we can think about intentional, nourishing connection – even in really small doses – it could really help center us,” she says.Take a moment to laugh with your colleagues, hug your pet, have a conversation with a friend or smile at the barista making your coffee. A study found that even tiny interactions with casual acquaintances and strangers decreases loneliness and improves happiness and well-being.Seek supportIf you try these practices and happiness remains elusive, or if you can’t access the wherewithal to follow these tips, seek support from your physician or a therapist. Mental health conditions are among the most common health issues in the U.S. and around the world – more prevalent than diabetes or heart disease. One in five people in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year, with depression and anxiety the most common, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.“We can all think about these tips,” Dr. Ogaryan says. “But it’s important to recognize if you’ve done everything you can and you’re still really struggling, it’s really important to seek help.”
The power of women's sports: Oregon becoming a female sports mecca
On this edition we talk with Kyra Buckley of OPB about her recent reporting that shows in a sluggish state economy, women's sports are doing much better economically than other industries in Oregon.
The Big Four consulting firms are embedded in Big Tech. Here's who audits each of the Magnificent 7 companies.
The Big Four professional services firms — PwC, Deloitte, EY, and KPMG — are becoming increasingly embedded in the tech world as AI evolves.
Resilient health: A new investment frontier
Resilient health is becoming a high‑growth frontier for capital: scalable, investible, risk-reducing, and aligned with global policy and market momentum.
The Packers’ playoff seeding paths are becoming very clear
There’s a 75 percent chance that the Green Bay Packers will be the 7th seed in the NFC in the playoffs.
I drive for Uber and Lyft after retiring from Wall Street. The principles I learned as a trader help me make more money.
Sergio Avedian started his career as a Wall Street trader before becoming a rideshare driver. Now, he makes videos for The Rideshare Guy on YouTube.
Bills-Browns Preview
Josh Allen will attempt to reach a couple of milestones on Sunday while also not becoming part of what Myles Garrett hopes is a record-setting day.
‘14 strong.’ Gritty Kentucky volleyball faces program’s second-ever Final Four
No. 1 seed Kentucky volleyball is two wins away from becoming the most-decorated team in program history.
Apple Seen Moving From AI Laggard To Leader In 2026
Morgan Stanley sees Apple becoming an AI leader in 2026, starting with a new Siri digital assistant. Apple stock is in a tight pattern.
Data centers have a political problem — and Big Tech wants to fix it
A growth engine for the economy is becoming a political albatross. Can messaging change that?
LG Quietly Installs Microsoft Copilot on Its Smart TVs—And You Can't Delete It
LG TV owners are not happy about the AI app showing up unannounced, becoming a permanent fixture on their homescreen.
In 2025, tech giants decided smart glasses are the next big thing
As we near the end of 2025, it's becoming increasingly apparent that smart glasses are going to be the next "big" thing. Here's why.
Marcus Lemonis is retiring from Camping World
Before becoming host of the TV show “The Profit," he built the largest RV retailer and took investors for a bumpy ride.
Is the sacred becoming political?
“Do you expect most of your donors to come from the political right?” The question caught me off guard. After more than 20 years in public-facing roles in the Jewish world, I’ve been asked just about everything. But this question,...
Washington Twp. business owner is an immigrant whose family won a lottery to come to the U.S.
The journey from his birthplace in the island country of Fiji to becoming a business owner in Washington Twp. was decades long for Ashwin Narayan.
Truth Or Consequences
From an early age, my life’s goal was to get at “the truth.” There were only two obvious career paths: Science, or investigative journalism. I went the first route, becoming an academic researcher. Proud of the path I chose, and always admiring the other one.
‘This place will win’: Business leaders say West Palm Beach is becoming America’s next big boomtown
West Palm Beach has evolved from its retirement haven days, as tech firms, financial giants and entrepreneurs flock to one of the country's most sought-after business destinations.
The federal government is blurring the lines between politics and medicine
As a family physician, I work every day to earn the trust of my patients. I see lines being blurred between politics and medicine and, despite the high trust the public has in their own physician, it is becoming harder to separate medical and scientific information from misinformation. I hear this concern from my patients, […]
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hartford: 10-Year Analysis Shows Shifts in Common, Expensive Small-Business Claims
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Certified industrial development land is dedicated at Holmen business parks
New industrial sites are becoming available in Holmen. LADCO hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, to dedicate property that is ready for development at two business parks north of downtown Holmen. The sites have been certified by state officials as ready for new construction. Vicki Markussen, the executive director of LADCO, says the two new development […]
Pebble's founder introduces a $75 AI smart ring for recording brief notes with a press of a button
After rebooting the Pebble smartwatch, founder Eric Migicovsky is expanding his company's device lineup with a new smart wearable: an AI-powered smart ring known as Index 01. Named for the finger where the ring is meant to be worn, the new $75 ring is not meant to be a competitor to the always-on, always-listening AI devices, like the AI pendant Friend, but instead offers a way to record quick notes and reminders with a press of a button on the ring's side. AI only comes into play via the open source, speech-to-text, and AI models that run locally on your smartphone, via the open source Pebble mobile app. That is, if the Ring's button is not being pressed, it's not recording. (And this is a press-and-hold gesture, too, which means you can't start the ring's recording and then let go to surreptitiously record a conversation.) You can wear the stainless steel ring while in the shower, washing hands, doing dishes, or in the rain, but you would have to take it off for other water-related activities, like swimming. At launch, it's water-resistant to 1 meter. The ring is also not a fitness tracker or sleep monitor. It doesn't record details about your heart rate or health. And it's not there to be your AI friend. "I'm not trying to build some AI assistant thing," Migicovsky told TechCrunch in an interview. "I build things that solve one main problem, and they solve it really well," he explains. "I think of as external memory for my brain...that's what this is. It's always with you." Plus, the ring has been designed to be highly reliable and privacy-preserving, he says, as all your thoughts are stored on your phone, not in the cloud. There is no subscription. Migicovsky has been wearing the ring for three months now and says he cannot imagine going back to a world where he doesn't always have a memory device with him. "The problem is that, during the day, I get ideas or I remember something, and if I don't write it down that second, I forget it," he says. The ring solves this problem, he adds, without becoming another device you need to charge. "The battery lasts for years," Migicovsky claims. Technically, the ring is said to support roughly 12 to 14 hours of recording. On average, the founder says he uses it 10-20 times per day to record 3-6 second thoughts. At that rate, he'll get about two years of usage. When the ring's battery dies, you can ship it back to the company for recycling. When using Index, you can record up to five minutes of audio, which can be saved to the ring and synced to your phone later. This makes sense for recording briefer, personal thoughts and notes, even when you don't have your phone handy, but it wouldn't work for recording a longer chat, like a presentation, meeting, or in-person interview of some kind. The ring also supports 99+ languages and has a bit of on-device memory, in case you're not in Bluetooth range of your device, where the recording is ultimately saved and transcribed. (The raw audio is retained, too, in case the speech-to-text is garbled due to loud background noise). If you own a Pebble smartwatch or one from another brand, your recorded thought can even appear on the watch's screen so you can verify it's correct. The ring works with Pebble's mobile app, which offers notes and reminders, but can optionally integrate with your phone's calendaring system, too, or other apps, like Notion. And the ring's software is open source, which makes it hackable by the community, the founder points out. Because of its open nature, the ring's button is already programmable. In addition to the press-and-hold gesture, you can program the ring to do other things with a single or double press, like play or pause your music or control the shutter on your phone's camera. You could use it to send a message through the universal chat app Beeper, which Migicovsky also created, or you could add your own voice actions via MCP. A new approach to hardware Migicovsky acknowledges that hardware can be difficult to get right -- as the previous exit of Pebble to Fitbit showed. (Fitbit, too, was later acquired by Google in 2021). "I didn't earn any money during Pebble -- we exited, but it was not a great exit," Migicovsky admits. This year, however, he decided to reboot the Pebble project after Google open sourced the PebbleOS, which opened up the door to new hardware. With his new company, Core Devices, Migicovsky plans to do things differently. Still, the founder doesn't regret his previous choices, he clarifies. "I wouldn't have gone back and changed anything. I loved what we built. I loved what we did. I love the company that we built, but it's not the only way to build a company," he told TechCrunch. " And, speaking as an ex-YC partner, there are -- there's a time and a place for building a venture-backed startup. Some companies are phenomenal when they raise money and build a big team, and I tried that...I think what I'm doing now is trying an alternative path, which is start from profitability," he says. The new company is a small team of five, self-funded, and focused on sustainability. So far, Core Devices has shipped the Pebble 2 Duo smartwatch with a black-and-white display. Its first run sold out, and the company is now preparing to ship the upgraded version, the Pebble Time 2. The newer device, which has seen 25,000 pre-orders, is a stainless steel watch with a larger, color e-ink screen. As for the Index 01, the ring's pre-order offer ends in March 2026. After that, the price increases to $99. It currently comes in silver, polished gold, and matte black and works with iOS and Android devices. Customers can select from eight ring sizes and three colors.
Shedeur is embracing every part of becoming QB1 🏈
Shedeur is embracing every part of becoming QB1 🏈
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar pushes a bigoted vision, gaslighting the audience into accepting it as entertainment
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar raises a very pertinent question: what is craft devoid of conscience? It risks becoming mere manipulation.
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Arsenal's 'beautiful' line-up change
Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy says Arsenal's squad depth is "remarkable" after Brentford struggled to contain the right side of their attack in the 2-0 win on Wednesday: "It's becoming remarkable now how good their squad is because [Jurrien} Timber and [Bukayo] Saka play on the right hand side normally, which is arguably one of the best combinations down the right side in Europe. "Then they bring in [Ben] White and [Noni] Madueke, who looked like they have played together for seasons. It was a beautiful combination.
How The Idea Of Affordability Is Shaping Our Politics : 1A
No matter where you live in the U.S., you’ve probably heard stories — or have your own — about not being able to afford to live. The couple in their 30s that can’t buy a home. The 20-something who can’t afford rent without living with several roommates. The family of five who feel pinched every time they visit the grocery store. The retiree struggling to pay their health insurance premium.Whatever the situation, these stories are becoming central to how Americans are experiencing the economy. And this feeling is shaping politics.A CBS poll from October suggests inflation and the economy are now the top concern among Americans. According to the Urban Institute, 52 percent of U.S. families don’t have the resources to cover what it costs to live. The average monthly cost of groceries has also risen 32 percent since 2019.What do when we mean when we say something is “affordable?” And how do we achieve that goal when the target keeps moving?